Isawatoncethatitwasvaintomakeanypursuitbymoonlight；andresolvingtoholdmyowncounselaboutitthoughpuzzlednotalittleandtokeepwatchthereanothernight，backIreturnedtothetallatt-ladder，andsleptwithoutleavingofftillmorning。
　　Nowmanypeoplemaywishtoknow，asindeedImyselfdidverygreatly，whathadbroughtMasterHuckabackoverfromDulverton，atthattimeofyear，whentheclothingbusinesswasmostactiveonaccountofharvestwages，andwhenthenewwheatwasbeginningtosamplefromtheearlypartsupthecountryforhemeddledaswellincorn-dealingandwhenwecouldnotattendtohimproperlybyreasonofouroccupation。Andyetmoresurprisingitseemedtomethatheshouldhavebroughthisgranddaughteralso，insteadofthetroopofdragoons，withoutwhichhehadvowedhewouldnevercomehereagain。Andhowhehadmanagedtoenterthehousetogetherwithhisgranddaughter，andbesittingquiteathomeintheparlourthere，withoutanyknowledgeorevensuspiciononmypart。Thatlastquestionwaseasilysolved，formotherherselfhadadmittedthembymeansofthelittlepassage，duringachorusoftheharvest-songwhichmighthavedrownedanearthquake：butasforhismeaningandmotive，andapparentneglectofhisbusiness，nonebuthimselfcouldinterpretthem；andashedidnotseefittodoso，wecouldnotberudeenoughtoinquire。
　　Heseemedinnohurrytotakehisdeparture，thoughhisvisitwassoinconvenienttous，ashimselfindeedmusthavenoticed：andpresentlyLizzie，whowasthesharpestamongus，saidinmyhearingthatshebelievedhehadpurposelytimedhisvisitsothathemighthavelibertytopursuehisownobject，whatsoeveritwere，withoutinterruptionfromus。MothergazedharduponLizzieatthis，havingformedaverydifferentopinion；
　　butAnnieandmyselfagreedthatitwasworthlookinginto。
　　Nowhowcouldwelookintoit，withoutwatchingUncleReuben，wheneverhewentabroad，andtryingtocatchhiminhisspeech，whenhewastakinghiseaseatnight。For，inspiteofallthedisgustwithwhichhehadspokenofharvestwassailing，therewasnotamancomingintoourkitchenwholikeditbetterthanhedid；onlyinaquietway，andwithouttoomanywitnesses。Nowtoendeavourtogetatthepurposeofanyguest，evenatreacherousonewhichwehadnorighttothinkUncleReubenbymeansofobservinghiminhiscups，isathingwhicheventhelowestofpeoplewouldregardwithabhorrence。Andtomyminditwasnotclearwhetheritwouldbefair-playatalltofollowavisitorevenatadistancefromhomeandclearofourpremises；exceptforthepurposeoffetchinghimback，andgivinghimmoretogoonwith。Neverthelesswecouldnotbutthink，thetimesbeingwildanddisjointed，thatUncleBenwasnotusingfairlythepartofaguestinourhouse，tomakelongexpeditionsweknewnotwhither，andinvolveusintroubleweknewnotwhat。
　　ForhismodewasdirectlyafterbreakfasttopraytotheLordalittlewhichusednottobehispractice，andthentogoforthuponDolly，thewhichwasourAnnie’spony，veryquietandrespectful，withabagofgoodvictualshungbehindhim，andtwogreatcavalrypistolsinfront。Andhealwaysworehismeanestclothesasifexpectingtoberobbed，ortodisarmthetemptationthereto；andhenevertookhisgoldenchronometerneitherhisbagofmoney。SomuchthegirlsfoundoutandtoldmeforIwasneverathomemyselfbyday；andtheyverycraftilyspurredmeon，havinglessnobleideasperhaps，tohituponUncleReuben’strack，andfollow，andseewhatbecameofhim。
　　Forheneverreturneduntildarkormore，justintimetobeinbeforeus，whowerecominghomefromtheharvest。AndthenDollyalwaysseemedveryweary，andstainedwithamuckfrombeyondourparish。
　　ButIrefusedtofollowhim，notonlyforthelossofaday’sworktomyself，andatleasthalfadaytotheothermen，butchieflybecauseIcouldnotthinkthatitwouldbeuprightandmanly。ItwasallverywelltocreepwarilyintothevalleyoftheDoones，andheedeverythingaroundme，bothbecausetheywerepublicenemies，andalsobecauseIriskedmylifeateverystepItookthere。Butastotrackingafeebleoldmanhoweversubtlehemightbe，aguestmoreoverofourown，andarelativethroughmymother——’Onceforall，’
　　Isaid，’itisbelowme，andIwon’tdoit。’
　　Thereupon，thegirls，knowingmyway，ceasedtotormentmeaboutit：butwhatwasmyastonishmenttheverynextdaytoperceivethatinsteadoffourteenreapers，wewereonlythirteenleft，directlyourbreakfastwasdonewith——ormowersratherIshouldsay，forweweregoneintothebarleynow。
　　’Whohasbeenandlefthisscythe？’Iasked；’andhere’satincupneverbeenhandled!’
　　’Whoy，dudn’teeknaw，MaisterJan，’saidBillDadds，lookingatmequeerly，’asJanVrywurganeavorebraxvass。’
　　’Oh，verywell，’Ianswered，’Johnknowswhatheisdoing。’ForJohnFrywasakindofforemannow，anditwouldnotdotosayanythingthatmightlessenhisauthority。However，Imadeupmymindtoropehim，whenIshouldcatchhimbyhimself，withoutperiltohisdignity。
　　ButwhenIcamehomeintheevening，lateandalmostweary，therewasnoAnniecookingmysupper，norLizziebythefirereading，norevenlittleRuthHuckabackwatchingtheshadowsandpondering。Uponthis，Iwenttothegirls’room，notintheverybestoftempers，andthereIfoundallthreeoftheminthelittleplacesetapartforAnnie，eagerlylisteningtoJohnFry，whowastellingsomegreatadventure。Johnhadagreatjugofalebesidehim，andahornwelldrained；andheclearlylookeduponhimselfasahero，andthemaidsseemedtobeofthesameopinion。
　　’Welldone，John，’mysisterwassaying，’capitallydone，JohnFry。Howverybraveyouhavebeen，John。
　　Nowquick，letusheartherestofit。’
　　’Whatdoesallthisnonsensemean？’Isaid，inavoicewhichfrightenedthem，asIcouldseebythelightofourownmuttoncandles：’JohnFry，youbeofftoyourwifeatonce，oryoushallhavewhatIoweyounow，insteadofto-morrowmorning。’
　　Johnmadenoanswer，butscratchedhishead，andlookedatthemaidenstotakehispart。
　　’Itisyouthatmustbeoff，Ithink，’saidLizzie，lookingstraightatmewithalltheimpudenceintheworld；’whatrighthaveyoutocomeinheretotheyoungladies’room，withoutaninvitationeven？’
　　’Verywell，MissLizzie，Isupposemotherhassomerighthere。’Andwiththat，Iwasgoingawaytofetchher，knowingthatshealwaystookmyside，andneverwouldallowthehousetobeturnedupsidedowninthatmanner。ButAnniecaughtholdofmebythearm，andlittleRuthstoodinthedoorway；andLizziesaid，’Don’tbeafool，John。Weknowthingsofyou，youknow；agreatdealmorethanyoudreamof。’
　　UponthisIglancedatAnnie，tolearnwhethershehadbeentelling，butherpuretruefacereassuredmeatonce，andthenshesaidverygently，——
　　’Lizzie，youtalktoofast，mychild。NooneknowsanythingofourJohnwhichheneedbeashamedof；andworkingashedoesfromlighttodusk，andearningthelivingofallofus，heisentitledtochoosehisowngoodtimeforgoingoutandforcomingin，withoutconsultingalittlegirlfiveyearsyoungerthanhimself。Now，John，sitdown，andyoushallknowallthatwehavedone，thoughIdoubtwhetheryouwillapproveofit。’
　　UponthisIkissedAnnie，andsodidRuth；andJohnFrylookedadealmorecomfortable，butLizzieonlymadeafaceatus。ThenAnniebeganasfollows：——
　　’Youmustknow，dearJohn，thatwehavebeenextremelycurious，eversinceUncleReubencame，toknowwhathewascomefor，especiallyatthistimeofyear，whenheisathisbusiest。Henevervouchsafedanyexplanation，neithergaveanyreason，trueorfalse，whichshowshisentireignoranceofallfemininenature。IfRuthhadknown，andrefusedtotellus，weshouldhavebeenmucheasier，becausewemusthavegotitoutofRuthbeforetwoorthreedayswereover。ButdarlingRuthknewnomorethanwedid，andindeedI
　　mustdoherthejusticetosaythatshehasbeenquiteasinquisitive。Well，wemighthaveputupwithit，ifithadnotbeenforhistakingDolly，myownpetDolly，awayeverymorning，quiteasifshebelongedtohim，andkeepingheroutuntilcloseupondark，andthenbringingherhomeinafrightfulcondition。Andheevenhadtheimpudence，whenItoldhimthatDollywasmypony，tosaythatweowedhimapony，eversinceyoutookfromhimthatlittlehorseuponwhichyoufoundhimstrappedsosnugly；andhemeanstotakeDollytoDulvertonwithhim，toruninhislittlecart。Ifthereislawinthelandheshallnot。Surely，John，youwillnotlethim？’
　　’ThatIwon’t，’saidI，’exceptupontheconditionswhichIofferedhimoncebefore。Ifweowehimthepony，weowehimthestraps。’
　　SweetAnnielaughed，likeabell，atthis，andthenshewentonwithherstory。
　　’Well，John，wewereperfectlymiserable。Youcannotunderstandit，ofcourse；butIusedtogoeveryevening，andhugpoorDolly，andkissher，andbeghertotellmewhereshehadbeen，andwhatshehadseen，thatday。ButneverhavingbelongedtoBalaam，darlingDollywasquiteunsuccessful，thoughoftenshestrovetotellme，withherearsdown，andbotheyesrolling。
　　ThenImadeJohnFrytiehertailinaknot，withapieceofwhiteribbon，asifforadornment，thatI
　　mighttraceheramongthehills，atanyrateforamileortwo。ButUncleBenwastoodeepforthat；hecutofftheribbonbeforehestarted，sayinghewouldhavenoDoonesafterhim。Andthen，indespair，Iappliedtoyou，knowinghowquickoffootyouare，andIgotRuthandLizzietohelpme，butyouansweredusveryshortly；andaverypoorsupperyouhadthatnight，accordingtoyourdeserts。
　　’Butthoughweweredashedtothegroundforatime，wewerenotwhollydiscomfited。Ourdeterminationtoknowallaboutitseemedtoincreasewiththedifficulty。
　　AndUncleBen’smannerlastnightwassodry，whenwetriedtorompandtoleadhimout，thatitwasmuchworsethanJamaicagingergratedintoapoorsprayedfinger。Sowesenthimtobedattheearliestmoment，andheldasmallcounciluponhim。Ifyourememberyou，John，havingnowtakentosmokewhichisahatefulpractice，hadgoneforthgrumblingaboutyourbadsupperandnottakingitasagoodlesson。’
　　’Why，Annie，’Icried，inamazementatthis，’Iwillnevertrustyouagainforasupper。Ithoughtyouweresosorry。’
　　’AndsoIwas，dear；verysorry。Butstillwemustdoourduty。Andwhenwecametoconsiderit，Ruthwasthecleverestofusall；forshesaidthatsurelywemusthavesomemanwecouldtrustaboutthefarmtogoonalittleerrand；andthenIrememberedthatoldJohnFrywoulddoanythingformoney。’
　　’Notformoney，plaize，miss，’saidJohnFry，takingapullatthebeer；’butfortheloveofyourswateface。’
　　’Tobesure，John；withtheKing’sbehindit。AndsoLizzieranforJohnFryatonce，andwegavehimfulldirections，howhewastoslipoutofthebarleyintheconfusionofthebreakfast，sothatnonemightmisshim；andtorunbacktotheblackcombebottom，andtherehewouldfindtheverysameponywhichUncleBenhadbeentiedupon，andthereisnofasteruponthefarm。Andthen，withoutwaitingforanybreakfastunlesshecouldeatiteitherrunningortrotting，hewastotravelalluptheblackcombe，bythetrackUncleReubenhadtaken，andupatthetoptolookforwardcarefully，andsototracehimwithoutbeingseen。’
　　’Ay；andraightwulladoo’dun，’Johncried，withhismouthinthebullock’shorn。
　　’Well，andwhatdidyousee，John？’Iasked，withgreatanxiety；thoughImeanttohaveshownnointerest。
　　’Johnwasjustattheverypointofit，’Lizzieansweredmesharply，’whenyouchosetocomeinandstophim。’
　　’Thenlethimbeginagain，’saidI；’thingsbeinggonesofar，itisnowmydutytoknoweverything，forthesakeofyougirlsandmother。’
　　’Hem!’criedLizzie，inanastyway；butItooknonoticeofher，forshewasalwaysbadtodealwith。
　　ThereforeJohnFrybeganagain，beingheartilygladtodoso，thathisstorymightgetoutofthetumblewhichallourtalkhadmadeinit。ButashecouldnottellataleinthemannerofmyLornaalthoughhetolditverywellforthosewhounderstoodhimIwilltakeitfromhismouthaltogether，andstateinbriefwhathappened。
　　WhenJohn，uponhisforestpony，whichhehadmuchadotoholditsmouthbeinglikeabucket，wascometothetopofthelongblackcombe，twomilesormorefromPlover’sBarrows，andwindingtothesouthward，hestoppedhislittlenagshortofthecrest，andgotoffandlookedaheadofhim，frombehindatumpofwhortles。Itwasalongflatsweepofmoorlandoverwhichhewasgazing，withafewbogshereandthere，andbrushyplacesroundthem。Ofcourse，JohnFry，fromhisshepherdlifeandreclaimingofstrayedcattle，knewaswellasneedbewherehewas，andthespreadofthehillsbeforehim，althoughitwasbeyondourbeat，or，rather，Ishouldsay，besideit。Notbutwhatwemighthave