Asitis，IshallkeepitforMasterFaggus，andaddinterestforkeeping。’
　　’Ohno，John；ohno，John，’shebeggedmeearnestly，beingsoberedinamoment。’Yourhandissoterriblyheavy，John；andheneverwouldforgiveyou；althoughheissogood-hearted，hecannotputupwithaninsult。
　　Promiseme，dearJohn，thatyouwillnotstrikehim；
　　andIwillpromiseyoufaithfullytokeepyoursecret，evenfrommother，andevenfromCousinTomhimself。’
　　’AndfromLizzie；mostofall，fromLizzie，’Iansweredveryeagerly，knowingtoowellwhichofmyrelationswouldbehardestwithme。
　　’OfcoursefromlittleLizzie，’saidAnnie，withsomecontempt；’ayoungthinglikehercannotbekepttoolong，inmyopinion，fromtheknowledgeofsuchsubjects。Andbesides，IshouldbeverysorryifLizziehadtherighttoknowyoursecrets，asIhave，dearestJohn。Notasoulshallbethewiserforyourhavingtrustedme，John；althoughIshallbeverywretchedwhenyouarelateawayatnight，amongthosedreadfulpeople。’
　　’Well，’Ireplied，’itisnousecryingoverspiltmilkAnnie。Youhavemysecret，andIhaveyours；andI
　　scarcelyknowwhichofthetwoislikelytohavetheworsttimeofit，whenitcomestomother’sears。I
　　couldputupwithperpetualscoldingbutnotwithmother’ssadsilence。’
　　’ThatisexactlyhowIfeel，John。’andasAnniesaiditshebrightenedup，andhersofteyesshoneuponme；
　　’butnowIshallbemuchhappier，dear；becauseIshalltrytohelpyou。Nodoubttheyoungladydeservesit，John。Sheisnotafterthefarm，Ihope？’
　　’She!’Iexclaimed；andthatwasenough，therewassomuchscorninmyvoiceandface。
　　’Then，Iamsure，Iamveryglad，’Anniealwaysmadethebestofthings；’forIdobelievethatSallySnowehastakenafancytoourdairy-place，andthepatternofourcream-pans；andsheaskedsomuchaboutourmeadows，andthecolourofthemilk——’
　　’Then，afterall，youwereright，dearAnnie；itisthegroundshedotesupon。’
　　’Andthethingsthatwalkuponit，’sheansweredmewithanotherkiss；’Sallyhastakenawonderfulfancytoourbestcow，“Nipple-pins。“Butshenevershallhavehernow；whataconsolation!’
　　Weenteredthehousequitegentlythus，andfoundFarmerNicholasSnoweasleep，littledreaminghowhisplanshadbeenoversetbetweenus。AndthenAnniesaidtomeveryslyly，betweenasmileandablush，——
　　’Don’tyouwishLornaDoonewashere，John，intheparlouralongwithmother；insteadofthosetwofashionablemilkmaids，asUncleBenwillcallthem，andpoorstupidMistressKebby？’
　　’ThatindeedIdo，Annie。Imustkissyouforonlythinkingofit。Dearme，itseemsasifyouhadknownallaboutusforatwelvemonth。’
　　’Shelovesyou，withallherheart，John。Nodoubtaboutthatofcourse。’AndAnnielookedupatme，asmuchastosayshewouldliketoknowwhocouldhelpit。
　　’That’stheverythingshewon’tdo，’saidI，knowingthatAnniewouldlovemeallthemoreforit，’sheisonlybeginningtolikeme，Annie；andasforloving，sheissoyoungthatsheonlyloveshergrandfather。
　　ButIhopeshewillcometoitby-and-by。’
　　’Ofcourseshemust，’repliedmysister，’itwillbeimpossibleforhertohelpit。’
　　’Ahwell!Idon’tknow，’forIwantedmoreassuranceofit。’Maidensaresuchwondrousthings!’’
　　’Notabitofit，’saidAnnie，castingherbrighteyesdownwards：’loveisassimpleasmilking，whenpeopleknowhowtodoit。Butyoumustnotletheralonetoolong；thatismyadvicetoyou。Whatasimpletonyoumusthavebeennottotellmelongago。IwouldhavemadeLornawildaboutyou，longbeforethistime，Johnny。Butnowyougointotheparlour，dear，whileI
　　doyourcollop。FaithSnoweisnotcome，butPollyandSally。Sallyhasmadeuphermindtoconqueryouthisveryblessedevening，John。Onlylookwhatathingofascarfshehason；Ishouldbequiteashamedtowearit。Butyouwon’tstrikepoorTom，willyou？’
　　’NotI，mydarling，foryoursweetsake。’
　　AndsodearAnnie，havinggrownquitebrave，gavemealittlepushintotheparlour，whereIwasquiteabashedtoenterafterallIhadheardaboutSally。AndImadeupmymindtoexamineherwell，andtryalittlecourtingwithher，ifsheshouldleadmeon，thatI
　　mightbeinpracticeforLorna。ButwhenIperceivedhowgrandlyandrichlyboththeyoungdamselswereapparelled；andhow，intheircurtseystome，theyretreated，asifIweremakinguptothem，inawaytheyhadlearnedfromExeter；andhowtheybegantotalkoftheCourt，asiftheyhadbeentherealltheirlives，andthelatestmodeoftheDuchessofthis，andtheprofileoftheCountessofthat，andthelastgoodsayingofmyLordsomething；insteadofbutter，andcream，andeggs，andthingswhichtheyunderstood；I
　　knewtheremustbesomebodyintheroombesidesJasperKebbytotalkat。
　　Andsotherewas；forbehindthecurtaindrawnacrossthewindow-seatnolessamanthanUncleBenwassittinghalfasleepandweary；andbyhissidealittlegirlveryquietandverywatchful。MymotherledmetoUncleBen，andhetookmyhandwithoutrising，mutteringsomethingnotover-polite，aboutmybeingbiggerthanever。Iaskedhimheartilyhowhewas，andhesaid，’Wellenough，forthatmatter；butnonethebetterforthenoiseyougreatclodshavebeenmaking。’
　　’Iamsorryifwehavedisturbedyou，sir，’Iansweredverycivilly；’butIknewnotthatyouwerehereeven；
　　andyoumustallowforharvesttime。’
　　’Soitseems，’hereplied；’andallowagreatdeal，includingwasteanddrunkenness。Nowifyoucanseesosmallathing，afteremptyingflagonsmuchlarger
　　thisismygranddaughter，andmyheiress’——hereheglancedatmother——’myheiress，littleRuthHuckaback。’
　　’Iamverygladtoseeyou，Ruth，’Ianswered，offeringhermyhand，whichsheseemedafraidtotake，’welcometoPlover’sBarrows，mygoodcousinRuth。’
　　However，mygoodcousinRuthonlyarose，andmademeacurtsey，andliftedhergreatbrowneyesatme，moreinfear，asIthought，thankinship。Andifeveranyonelookedunliketheheiresstogreatproperty，itwasthelittlegirlbeforeme。
　　’Comeouttothekitchen，dear，andletmechuckyoutotheceiling，’Isaid，justtoencourageher；’Ialwaysdoittolittlegirls；andthentheycanseethehamsandbacon。’ButUncleReubenburstoutlaughing；andRuthturnedawaywithadeeprichcolour。
　　’Doyouknowhowoldsheis，younumskull？’saidUncleBen，inhisdryestdrawl；’shewasseventeenlastJuly，sir。’
　　’OnthefirstofJuly，grandfather，’Ruthwhispered，withherbackstilltome；’butmanypeoplewillnotbelieveit。’
　　Heremothercameuptomyrescue，asshealwayslovedtodo；andshesaid，’IfmysonmaynotdanceMissRuth，atanyratehemaydancewithher。Wehaveonlybeenwaitingforyou，dearJohn，tohavealittleharvestdance，withthekitchendoorthrownopen。YoutakeRuth；UncleBentakeSally；MasterDebbypairoffwithPolly；andneighbourNicholaswillbegoodenough，ifIcanawakehim，tostandupwithfairMistressKebby。Lizziewillplayusthevirginal。Won’tyou，Lizziedear？’
　　’Butwhoistodancewithyou，madam？’UncleBenasked，verypolitely。’Ithinkyoumustrearrangeyourfigure。Ihavenotdancedforascoreofyears；andI
　　willnotdancenow，whilethemistressandtheowneroftheharvestsitsasideneglected。’
　　’Nay，MasterHuckaback，’criedSallySnowe，withasaucytossofherhair；’MistressRiddistookindagreatdeal，inhandingyouovertome。Youtakeher；
　　andIwillfetchAnnietobemypartnerthisevening。
　　Ilikedancingverymuchbetterwithgirls，fortheyneversqueezeandrumpleone。Oh，itissomuchnicer!’
　　’Havenofearforme，mydears，’ourmotheransweredsmiling：’ParsonBowdenpromisedtocomebackagain；I
　　expecthimeveryminute；andheintendstoleadmeoff，andtobringapartnerforAnnietoo，averyprettyyounggentleman。Nowbegin；andIwilljoinyou。’
　　Therewasnodisobeyingher，withoutrudeness；andindeedthegirls’feetwerealreadyjigging；andLizziegivingherselfwonderfulairswitharolloflearnedmusic；andevenwhileAnniewasdoingmycollop，herprettyroundinstepwasarchingitself，asIcouldseefromtheparlour-door。SoItooklittleRuth，andI
　　spunheraround，asthesoundofthemusiccamelivelyandringing；andafteruscamealltherestwithmuchlaughter，beggingmenottojumpoverher；andanonmygravepartnerbegantosmilesweetly，andlookupatmewiththebrightestofeyes，anddropmetheprettiestcurtseys；tillIthoughtwhatagreatstupeImusthavebeentodreamofputtingherinthecheese-rack。ButonethingIcouldnotatallunderstand；whymother，whousedtodoallinherpowertothrowmeacrossSallySnowe，shouldnowdotheveryopposite；forshewouldnotallowmeonemomentwithSally，noteventocrossinthedance，orwhisper，orgoanywherenearacornerwhichasIsaid，Iintendedtodo，justbywayofpractice，whileshekeptme，alltheevening，ascloseaspossiblewithRuthHuckaback，andcameupandpraisedmesotoRuth，timesandagain，thatIdeclareIwasquiteashamed。AlthoughofcourseIknewthatI
　　deserveditall，butIcouldnotwellsaythat。
　　ThenAnniecamesailingdownthedance，withherbeautifulhairflowingroundher；thelightestfigureinalltheroom，andthesweetest，andtheloveliest。
　　Shewasblushing，withherfaircheeksredbeneathherdearblueeyes，asshemetmyglanceofsurpriseandgriefatthepartnershewasleaningon。ItwasSquireMarwooddeWhichehalse。IwouldsoonerhaveseenherwithTomFaggus，asindeedIhadexpected，whenIheardofParsonBowden。Andtomeitseemedthatshehadnorighttobedancingsowithanyother；andtothiseffectIcontrivedtowhisper；butsheonlysaid，’Seetoyourself，John。No，butletusbothenjoyourselves。YouarenotdancingwithLorna，John。Butyouseemuncommonlyhappy。’
　　’Tush，’Isaid；’couldIflipaboutso，ifIhadmylovewithme？’
　　Wekeptupthedanceverylatethatnight，motherbeinginsuchwonderfulspirits，thatshewouldnothearofourgoingtobed：
　　whilesheglancedfromyoungSquireMarwood，verydeepinhistalkwithourAnnie，tomeandRuthHuckabackwhowerebeginningtobeverypleasantcompany。Alas，poormother，soproudasshewas，howlittleshedreamedthathergoodschemesalreadywerehopelesslygoingawry!
　　Beingforcedtobeupbeforedaylightnextday，inordertobeginrightearly，Iwouldnotgotomybedroomthatnightforfearofdisturbingmymother，butdeterminedtosleepinthetallatawhile，thatplacebeingcool，andairy，andrefreshingwiththesmellofsweethay。Moreover，aftermydwellingintown，whereIhadfeltlikeahorseonalime-kiln，I
　　couldnotforalengthoftimehaveenoughofcountrylife。Themooingofacalfwasmusic，andthechuckleofafowlwaswit，andthesnoreofthehorseswasnewstome。
　　’Wulthavetheeownwai，Ireckon，’saidBetty，beingcrosswithsleepiness，forshehadwashedupeverything；’slapeinhog-pound，iftheelaikes，Jan。’
　　LettingherhavethelastwordofitasisthedueofwomenIstoodinthecourt，andwonderedawhileatthegloryoftheharvestmoon，andtheyellowworlditshoneupon。ThenIsaw，assureaseverIwasstandingthereintheshadowofthestable，Isawashortwidefigureglideacrossthefootofthecourtyard，betweenmeandthesix-barredgate。Insteadofrunningafterit，asIshouldhavedone，Ibegantoconsiderwhoitcouldbe，andwhatonearthwasdoingthere，whenallourpeoplewereinbed，andthereapersgonehome，ortothelinhaycloseagainstthewheatfield。
　　Havingmadeupmymindatlast，thatitcouldbenoneofourpeople——thoughnotadogwasbarking——andalsothatitmusthavebeeneitheragirlorawoman，Irandownwithallspeedtolearnwhatmightbethemeaningofit。ButIcametoolatetolearn，throughmyownhesitation，forthiswasthelowerendofthecourtyard，nottheapproachfromtheparishhighway，buttheendofthesledd-way，acrossthefieldswherethebrookgoesdowntotheLynnstream，andwhereSquireFaggushadsavedtheolddrake。Andofcoursethedrychannelofthebrook，beingscarcelyanywaternow，affordedplentyofplacetohide，leadingalsotoalittlecoppice，beyondourcabbage-garden，andsofurtherontotheparishhighway。