ThenIspokewithastrangetingleuponbothsidesofmyheart，knowingthatthisundertakingwasaseriousoneforall，andmightburnourfarmdown，——
　　’IfIwarranttotakeyousafe，andwithoutmuchfrightorhardship，Lorna，willyoucomewithme？’
　　’TobesureIwill，dear，’saidmybeauty，withasmileandaglancetofollowit；’Ihavesmallalternative，tostarve，orgowithyou，John。’
　　’Gwenny，haveyoucourageforit？Willyoucomewithyouryoungmistress？’
　　’WillIstaybehind？’criedGwenny，inavoicethatsettledit。Andsowebegantoarrangeaboutit；andIwasmuchexcited。Itwasuselessnowtoleaveitlonger；ifitcouldbedoneatall，itcouldnotbetooquicklydone。ItwastheCounsellorwhohadordered，afterallotherschemeshadfailed，thathisnieceshouldhavenofooduntilshewouldobeyhim。Hehadstrictlywatchedthehouse，takingturnswithCarver，toensurethatnonecamenighitbearingfoodorcomfort。Butthisevening，theyhadthoughtitneedlesstoremainonguard；anditwouldhavebeenimpossible，becausethemselveswerebusyofferinghighfestivaltoallthevalley，inrightoftheirowncommandership。AndGwennysaidthatnothingmadehersonearlymadwithappetiteastheaccountshereceivedfromawomanofallthedishespreparing。Neverthelessshehadansweredbravely，——
　　’GoandtelltheCounsellor，andgoandtelltheCarver，whosentyoutospyuponus，thatweshallhaveafinerdishthananysetbeforethem。’Andsointruththeydid，althoughsolittledreamingit；fornoDoonethatwaseverborn，howevermuchofaCarver，mightviewithourAnnieformince-meat。
　　Nowwhilewesatreflectingmuch，andtalkingagooddealmore，inspiteofallthecold——forIneverwasinahurrytogo，whenIhadLornawithme——shesaid，inhersilveryvoice，whichalwaysledmesoalong，asifIwereaslavetoabeautifulbell，——
　　’Now，John，wearewastingtime，dear。Youhavepraisedmyhair，tillitcurlswithpride，andmyeyestillyoucannotseethem，eveniftheyarebrowndiamondswhichIhaveheardforthefiftiethtimeatleast；thoughIneversawsuchajewel。Don’tyouthinkitishightimetoputonyoursnow-shoes，John？’
　　’Certainlynot，’Ianswered，’tillwehavesettledsomethingmore。IwassocoldwhenIcamein；andnowIamaswarmasacricket。Andsoareyou，youlivelysoul；thoughyouarenotuponmyhearthyet。’
　　’Remember，John，’saidLorna，nestlingforamomenttome；’theseverityoftheweathermakesagreatdifferencebetweenus。Andyoumustnevertakeadvantage。’
　　’Iquiteunderstandallthat，dear。Andtheharderitfreezesthebetter，whilethatunderstandingcontinues。
　　Nowdotrytobeserious。’
　　’Itrytobeserious!AndIhavebeentryingfiftytimes，andcouldnotbringyoutoit，John!AlthoughI
　　amsurethesituation，astheCounsellorsaysatthebeginningofaspeech，thesituation，tosaytheleast，isseriousenoughforanything。Come，Gwenny，imitatehim。’
　　GwennywasfamedforherimitationoftheCounsellormakingaspeech；andshebegantoshakeherhair，andmountuponafootstool；butIreallycouldnothavethis，thoughevenLornaorderedit。Thetruthwasthatmydarlingmaidenwasinsuchwildspirits，atseeingmesounexpected，andattheprospectofrelease，andofwhatshehadneverknown，quietlifeandhappiness，thatlikeallwarmandlovingnatures，shecouldscarcecontrolherself。
　　’Cometothisfrozenwindow，John，andseethemlightthestack-fire。Theywilllittleknowwholooksatthem。Nowbeverygood，John。Youstayinthatcorner，dear，andIwillstandonthisside；andtrytobreatheyourselfapeep-holethroughthelovelyspearsandbanners。Oh，youdon’tknowhowtodoit。Imustdoitforyou。Breathethreetimes，likethat，andthat；andthenyourubitwithyourfingers，beforeithastimetofreezeagain。’
　　Allthisshedidsobeautifully，withherlipsputuplikecherries，andherfingersbenthalfback，asonlygirlscanbendthem，andherlittlewaistthrownoutagainstthewhiteofthesnowed-upwindow，thatImadeherdoitthreetimesover；andIstoppedhereverytimeandletitfreezeagain，thatsoshemightbethelonger。NowIknewthatallherlovewasmine，everybitasmuchasminewashers；yetImusthavehertoshowit，dwellinguponeveryproof，lengtheningoutallcertainty。Perhapsthejealousheartisloathtoownalifeworthtwiceitsown。Bethatasitmay，Iknowthatwethawedthewindownicely。
　　AndthenIsaw，fardownthestreamorratherdownthebedofit，fortherewasnostreamvisible，alittleformoffirearising，red，anddark，andflickering。
　　Presentlyitcaughtonsomething，andwentupwardboldly；andthenitstruckintomanyforks，andthenitfell，androseagain。
　　’Doyouknowwhatallthatis，John？’askedLorna，smilingcleverlyatthemannerofmystaring。
　　’HowonearthshouldIknow？PapistsburnProtestantsintheflesh；andProtestantsburnPapistsineffigy，aswemockthem。Lorna，aretheygoingtoburnanyoneto-night？’
　　’No，youdear。Imustridyouofthesethings。Iseethatyouarebigoted。TheDoonesarefiringDunkerybeacon，tocelebratetheirnewcaptain。’
　　’Buthowcouldtheybringitherethroughthesnow？Iftheyhavesledges，Icandonothing。’
　　’Theybroughtitbeforethesnowbegan。Themomentpoorgrandfatherwasgone，evenbeforehisfuneral，theyoungmen，havingnonetocheckthem，beganatonceuponit。Theyhadalwaysborneagrudgeagainstit；
　　notthatiteverdidthemharm；butbecauseitseemedsoinsolent。“Can’tagentlemangohome，withoutasmokebehindhim？“Ihaveoftenheardthemsaying。Andthoughtheyhavedoneitnoseriousharm，sincetheythrewthefiremenonthefire，many，manyyearsago，theyhaveoftenpromisedtobringitherefortheircandle；andnowtheyhavedoneit。Ah，nowlook!Thetariskindled。’
　　ThoughLornatookitsoinjoke，Ilookeduponitverygravely，knowingthatthisheavyoutragetothefeelingsoftheneighbourhoodwouldcausemorestirthanahundredsheepstolen，orascoreofhousessacked。Notofcoursethatthebeaconwasofthesmallestusetoanyone，neitherstoppedanybodyfromstealing，nay，ratheritwasliketheparishknell，whichbeginswhenallisover，anddepressesallthesurvivors；yetIknewthatwevaluedit，andwereproud，andspokeofitasamightyinstitution；andevenmorethanthat，ourvestryhadvoted，withinthelasttwoyears，sevenshillingsandsix-pencetopayforit，inproportionwithotherparishes。Andoneofthemenwhoattendedtoit，oratleastwhowaspaidfordoingso，wasourJemSlocombe’sgrandfather。
　　However，inspiteofallmyregrets，thefirewentupverymerrily，blazingredandwhiteandyellow，asitleapedondifferentthings。Andthelightdancedonthesnow-driftswithamistylilachue。Iwasastonishedatitsburninginsuchmightydepthsofsnow；butGwennysaidthatthewickedmenhadbeenthreedayshardatwork，clearing，asitwere，acock-pit，fortheirfiretohaveitsway。Andnowtheyhadamightypile，whichmusthavecoveredfiveland-yardssquare，heapeduptoagoodlyheight，andeagertotakefire。
　　InthisIsawgreatobstacletowhatIwishedtomanage。Forwhenthispyramidshouldbekindledthoroughly，andpouringlightandblazesround，wouldnotallthevalleybelikeawhiteroomfullofcandles？Thinkingthus，Iwashalfinclinedtoabidemytimeforanothernight：andthenmysecondthoughtsconvincedmethatIwouldbeafoolinthis。Forlo，whatanopportunity!AlltheDooneswouldbedrunk，ofcourse，inaboutthreehours’time，andgettingmoreandmoreindrinkasthenightwenton。Asforthefire，itmustsinkinaboutthreehoursormore，andonlycastuncertainshadowsfriendlytomypurpose。
　　Andthentheoutlawsmustcowerroundit，asthecoldincreasedonthem，helpingtheweightoftheliquor；
　　andintheirjollityanynoisewouldbecheeredasafalsealarm。Mostofall，andwhichdecidedonceforallmyaction，——whenthesewildandrecklessvillainsshouldbehotwithardentspirits，whatwasdoor，orwall，tostandbetwixtthemandmyLorna？
　　ThisthoughtquickenedmesomuchthatItouchedmydarlingreverently，andtoldherinafewshortwordshowIhopedtomanageit。
　　’Sweetest，intwohours’time，Ishallbeagainwithyou。Keepthebarup，andhaveGwennyreadytoansweranyone。Youaresafewhiletheyaredining，dear，anddrinkinghealths，andallthatstuff；andbeforetheyhavedonewiththat，Ishallbeagainwithyou。Haveeverythingyoucaretotakeinaverylittlecompass，andGwennymusthavenobaggage。Ishallknockloud，andthenwaitalittle；andthenknocktwice，verysoftly。’
　　WiththisIfoldedherinmyarms；andshelookedfrightenedatme；nothavingperceivedherdanger；andthenItoldGwennyoveragainwhatIhadtoldhermistress：butsheonlynoddedherheadandsaid，’Youngman，goandteachthygrandmother。’
　　TomygreatdelightIfoundthattheweather，notoftenfriendlytolovers，andlatelyseemingsohostile，hadinthemostimportantmatterdonemeasignalservice。ForwhenIhadpromisedtotakemylovefromthepowerofthosewretches，theonlywayofescapeapparentlaythroughthemainDoone-gate。ForthoughImightclimbthecliffsmyself，especiallywiththesnowtoaidme，IdurstnottrytofetchLornaupthem，evenifshewerenothalf-starved，aswellaspartlyfrozen；andasforGwenny’sdoor，aswecalleditthatistosay，thelittleentrancefromthewoodedhollow，itwassnoweduplongagotothelevelofthehillsaround。ThereforeIwasatmywit’sendhowtogetthemout；thepassagebytheDoone-gatebeinglong，anddark，anddifficult，andleadingtosuchawearycircuitamongthesnowymoorsandhills。
　　Butnow，beinghomeward-boundbytheshortestpossibletrack，Islippedalongbetweenthebonfireandtheboundarycliffs，whereIfoundacavedwayofsnowbehindasortofavalanche：sothatiftheDooneshadbeenkeepingwatchwhichtheywerenotdoing，butrevelling，theycouldscarcelyhavediscoveredme。
　　AndwhenIcametomyoldascent，whereIhadoftenscaledthecliffandmadeacrossthemountains，itstruckmethatIwouldjusthavealookatmyfirstandpainfulentrance，towit，thewater-slide。Ineverforamomentimaginedthatthiscouldhelpmenow；forI
　　neverhaddaredtodescendit，eveninthefinestweather；stillIhadacuriositytoknowwhatmyoldfriendwaslike，withsomuchsnowuponhim。But，tomyverygreatsurprise，therewasscarcelyanysnowthereatall，thoughplentycurlinghighoverheadfromthecliff，likebolstersoverit。Probablythesweepingofthenorth-eastwindupthenarrowchasmhadkepttheshowersfromblockingit，althoughthewaterhadnopowerunderthebittergripoffrost。Allmywater-slidewasnowlessaslidethanpathofice；
　　furrowedwherethewatersranoverflutedridges；
　　seamedwherewindhadtossedandcombedthem，evenwhilecongealing；andcrossedwithlittlestepswhereverthefreezingtorrentlingered。Andhereandtheretheicewasfibredwiththetrailofsludge-
　　weed，slantingfromtheside，andmatted，soastomakeresting-place。
　　Loitwaseasytrackandchannel，asiffortheverypurposemade，downwhichIcouldguidemysledgewithLornasittinginit。Therewereonlytwothingstobefeared；onelesttherollsofsnowaboveshouldfallinandburyus；theotherlestweshouldrushtoofast，andsobecarriedheadlongintotheblackwhirlpoolatthebottom，themiddleofwhichwasstillunfrozen，andlookingmorehorriblebythecontrast。AgainstthisdangerImadeprovision，byfixingastoutbaracross；
　　butoftheotherwemusttakeourchance，andtrustourselvestoProvidence。
　　Ihastenedhomeatmyutmostspeed，andtoldmymotherforGod’ssaketokeepthehouseuptillmyreturn，andtohaveplentyoffireblazing，andplentyofwaterboiling，andfoodenoughhotforadozenpeople，andthebestbedairedwiththewarming-pan。Dearmothersmiledsoftlyatmyexcitement，thoughherownwasnotmuchless，Iamsure，andenhancedbysoreanxiety。
　　ThenIgaveverystrictdirectionstoAnnie，andpraisedheralittle，andkissedher；andIevenendeavouredtoflatterEliza，lestsheshouldbedisagreeable。
　　AfterthisItooksomebrandy，bothwithinandaboutme；theformer，becauseIhadsharpworktodo；andthelatterinfearofwhatevermighthappen，insuchgreatcold，tomycomrades。AlsoIcarriedsomeotherprovisions，grievingmuchattheircoldness：andthenI
　　wenttotheupperlinhay，andtookournewlightpony-
　　sledd，whichhadbeenmadealmostasmuchforpleasureasforbusiness；thoughGodonlyknowshowourgirlscouldhavefoundanypleasureinbumpingalongso。Onthesnow，however，itranassweetlyasifithadbeenmadeforit；yetIdurstnottaketheponywithit；inthefirstplace，becausehishoofswouldbreakthroughtheever-shiftingsurfaceofthelightandpilingsnow；
　　andsecondly，becausetheseponies，comingfromtheforest，haveadreadfultrickofneighing，andmostofallinfrostyweather。
　　ThereforeIgirdedmyownbodywithadozenturnsofhay-rope，twistingboththeendsinunderatthebottomofmybreast，andwindingthehayontheskewalittle，thatthehempenthongmightnotslipbetween，andsocutmeinthedrawing。Iputagoodpieceofspareropeinthesledd，andthecross-seatwiththebacktoit，whichwasstuffedwithourownwool，aswellastwoorthreefurcoats；andthen，justasIwasstarting，outcameAnnie，inspiteofthecold，pantingforfearofmissingme，andwithnothingonherhead，butalanthorninonehand。