’Mydarlingchild，mydearestniece；howwonderfullywellyoulook!MistressRidd，Igiveyoucredit。Thisisthecountryofgoodthings。IneverwouldhavebelievedourQueencouldhavelookedsoroyal。Surelyofallvirtues，hospitalityisthefinest，andthemostromantic。DearestLorna，kissyouruncle；itisquiteaprivilege。’
　　’Perhapsitistoyou，sir，’saidLorna，whocouldneverquitecheckhersenseofoddity；’butIfearthatyouhavesmokedtobacco，whichspoilsreciprocity。’
　　’Youareright，mychild。Howkeenyourscentis!Itisalwayssowithus。Yourgrandfatherwasnotedforhisolfactorypowers。Ah，agreatloss，dearMrs。
　　Ridd，aterriblelosstothisneighbourhood!Asoneofourgreatwriterssays——IthinkitmustbeMilton——“Wene’ershalllookuponhislikeagain。“’
　　’Withyourgoodleavesir，’Ibrokein，’MasterMiltoncouldneverhavewrittensosweetandsimplealineasthat。ItisoneofthegreatShakespeare。’
　　’Woeismeformyneglect!’saidtheCounsellor，bowingairily；’thismustbeyourson，MistressRidd，thegreatJohn，thewrestler。AndonewhomeddleswiththeMuses!Ah，sinceIwasyoung，howeverythingischanged，madam!Exceptindeedthebeautyofwomen，whichseemstometoincreaseeveryyear。’Heretheoldvillainbowedtomymother；andsheblushed，andmadeanothercurtsey，andreallydidlookverynice。
　　’NowthoughIhavequotedthepoetsamiss，asyoursoninformsmeforwhichItendermybestthanks，andmustamendmyreading，Icanhardlybewronginassumingthatthisyoungarmigermustbethetooattractivecynosuretoourpoorlittlemaiden。Andformypart，sheiswelcometohim。Ihaveneverbeenoneofthosewhodwellupondistinctionsofrank，andbirth，andsuchlike；asiftheywereintheheartofnature，andmustbeeternal。Inearlyyouth，Imayhavethoughtso，andbeenfullofthatlittlepride。ButnowI
　　havelongaccounteditoneofthefirstaxiomsofpoliticaleconomy——youarefollowingme，MistressRidd？’
　　’Well，sir，Iamdoingmybest；butIcannotquitekeepupwithyou。’
　　’Nevermind，madam；Iwillbeslower。Butyourson’sintelligenceissoquick——’
　　’Isee，sir；youthoughtthatminemustbe。Butno；itallcomesfromhisfather，sir。Hisfatherwasthatquickandclever——’
　　’Ah，Icanwellsupposeit，madam。Andacreditheistobothofyou。Now，toreturntoourmuttons——afigurewhichyouwillappreciate——Imaynowberegarded，Ithink，asthisyounglady’slegalguardian；
　　althoughIhavenothadthehonourofbeingformallyappointedsuch。HerfatherwastheeldestsonofSirEnsorDoone；andIhappenedtobethesecondson；andasyoungmaidenscannotbebaronets，IsupposeIam“SirCounsellor。“Isitso，MistressRidd，accordingtoyourtheoryofgenealogy？’
　　’IamsureIdon’tknow，sir，’mymotheransweredcarefully；’Iknownotanythingofthatname，sir，exceptintheGospelofMatthew：butIseenotwhyitshouldbeotherwise。’
　　’Good，madam!Imaylookuponthatasyoursanctionandapproval：andtheCollegeofHeraldsshallhearofit。
　　Andinreturn，asLorna’sguardian，Igivemyfullandreadyconsenttohermarriagewithyourson，madam。’
　　’Oh，howgoodofyou，sir，howkind!Well，Ialwaysdidsay，thatthelearnedestpeoplewere，almostalways，thebestandkindest，andthemostsimple-hearted。’
　　’Madam，thatisagreatsentiment。Whatagoodlycoupletheywillbe!andifwecanaddhimtoourstrength——’
　　’Ohno，sir，ohno!’criedmother：’youreallymustnotthinkofit。Hehasalwaysbeenbroughtupsohonest——’
　　’Hem!thatmakesadifference。AdecideddisqualificationfordomesticlifeamongtheDoones。
　　But，surely，hemightgetoverthoseprejudices，madam？’
　　’Ohno，sir!henevercan：henevercanindeed。Whenhewasonlythathigh，sir，hecouldnotstealevenanapple，whensomewickedboystriedtomisleadhim。’
　　’Ah，’repliedtheCounsellor，shakinghiswhiteheadgravely；’thenIgreatlyfearthathiscaseisquiteincurable。Ihaveknownsuchcases；violentprejudice，bredentirelyofeducation，andanti-economicaltothelastdegree。Andwhenitisso，itisdesperate：noman，afterimbibingideasofthatsort，caninanywaybeuseful。’
　　’Ohyes，sir，Johnisveryuseful。Hecandoasmuchworkasthreeothermen；andyoushouldseehimloadasledd，sir。’
　　’Iwasspeaking，madam，ofhigherusefulness，——powerofthebrainandheart。Themainthingforusuponearthistotakealargeviewofthings。Butwhilewetalkoftheheart，whatismynieceLornadoing，thatshedoesnotcomeandthankme，formyperhapstoopromptconcessiontoheryouthfulfancies？Ah，ifIhadwantedthanks，Ishouldhavebeenmorestubborn。’
　　Lorna，beingchallengedthus，cameupandlookedatheruncle，withhernobleeyesfixedfulluponhis，whichbeneathhiswhiteeyebrowsglistened，likedormerwindowspiledwithsnow。
　　’ForwhatamItothankyou，uncle？’
　　’Mydearniece，Ihavetoldyou。Forremovingtheheaviestobstacle，whichtoamindsowellregulatedcouldpossiblyhaveexisted，betweenyourdutifulselfandtheobjectofyouraffections。’
　　’Well，uncle，Ishouldbeverygrateful，ifIthoughtthatyoudidsofromloveofme；orifIdidnotknowthatyouhavesomethingyetconcealedfromme。’
　　’Andmyconsent，’saidtheCounsellor，’isthemoremeritorious，themoreliberal，frank，andcandid，inthefaceofanexistingfact，andaveryclearlyestablishedone；whichmighthaveappearedtoweakermindsinthelightofanimpediment；buttomyloftierviewofmatrimonyseemsquitearecommendation。’
　　’Whatfactdoyoumean，sir？IsitonethatIoughttoknow？’
　　’Inmyopinionitis，goodniece。Itforms，tomymind，sofineabasisfortheinvariableharmonyofthematrimonialstate。Tobebrief——asIalwaysendeavourtobe，withoutbecomingobscure——youtwoyoungpeopleah，whatagiftisyouth!onecanneverbetoothankfulforityouwillhavetherareadvantageofcommencingmarriedlife，withasubjectofcommoninteresttodiscuss，wheneveryouwearyof——well，sayofoneanother；ifyoucannow，byanymeans，conceivesuchapossibility。Andperfectjusticemetedout：
　　mutualgoodwillresulting，fromthesenseofreciprocity。’
　　’Idonotunderstandyou，sir。Whycanyounotsaywhatyoumean，atonce？’
　　’Mydearchild，Iprolongyoursuspense。Curiosityisthemostpowerfulofallfeminineinstincts；andthereforethemostdelightful，whennotprematurelysatisfied。However，ifyoumusthavemystrongrealities，heretheyare。YourfatherslewdearJohn’sfather，anddearJohn’sfatherslewyours。’
　　Havingsaidthusmuch，theCounsellorleanedbackuponhischair，andshadedhiscalmwhite-beardedeyesfromtheraysofourtallowcandles。Hewasamanwholikedtolook，ratherthantobelookedat。ButLornacametomeforaid；andIwentuptoLornaandmotherlookedatbothofus。
　　ThenfeelingthatImustspeakfirstasnoonewouldbeginit，Itookmydarlingroundthewaist，andledheruptotheCounsellor；whileshetriedtobearitbravely；yetmustleanonme，ordid。
　　’Now，SirCounsellorDoone，’Isaid，withLornasqueezingbothmyhands，Ineveryetknewhowconsideringthatshewaswalkingallthetime，orsomethinglikeit；’youknowrightwell，SirCounsellor，thatSirEnsorDoonegaveapproval。’I
　　cannottellwhatmademethinkofthis：butsoitcameuponme。
　　’Approvaltowhat，goodrusticJohn？Totheslaughtersoreciprocal？’
　　’No，sir，nottothat；evenifiteverhappened；whichIdonotbelieve。ButtothelovebetwixtmeandLorna；whichyourstoryshallnotbreak，withoutmoreevidencethanyourword。Andevenso，shallneverbreak；ifLornathinksasIdo。’
　　Themaidengavemealittletouch，asmuchastosay，’Youareright，darling：giveittohim，again，likethat。’However，Iheldmypeace，wellknowingthattoomanywordsdomischief。
　　Thenmotherlookedatmewithwonder，beingherselftooamazedtospeak；andtheCounsellorlooked，withgreatwrathinhiseyes，whichhetriedtokeepfromburning。
　　’Howsayyouthen，JohnRidd，’hecried，stretchingoutonehand，likeElijah；’isthisathingofthesortyoulove？Isthiswhatyouareusedto？’
　　’Sopleaseyourworship，’Ianswered；’nokindofviolencecansurpriseus，sincefirstcameDoonesuponExmoor。Uptothattimenoneheardofharm；exceptoftakingapurse，maybe，orcuttingastrangesheep’sthroat。Andthepoorfolkwhodidthiswerehanged，withsomebenefitofclergy。ButeversincetheDoonescamefirst，weareusedtoanything。’
　　’Thouvarlet，’criedtheCounsellor，withthecolourofhiseyesquitechangedwiththesparklesofhisfury；
　　’isthisthewaywearetodealwithsuchalow-bredclodasthou？Toquestionthedoingsofourpeople，andtotalkofclergy!What，dreamyounotthatwecouldhaveclergy，andoftherightsort，too，ifonlywecaredtohavethem？Tush!AmItospendmytimearguingwithaplough-tailBob？’
　　’Ifyourworshipwillhearkentome，’Iansweredverymodestly，notwishingtospeakharshly，withLornalookingupatme；’therearemanythingsthatmightbesaidwithoutanykindofargument，whichIwouldneverwishtotrywithoneofyourworship’slearning。Andinthefirstplaceitseemstomethatifourfathershatedoneanotherbitterly，yetneitherwonthevictory，onlymutualdiscomfiture；surelythatisbutareasonwhyweshouldbewiserthanthey，andmakeitupinthisgenerationbygoodwillandloving’——
　　’Oh，John，youwiserthanyourfather!’motherbrokeuponmehere；’notbutwhatyoumightbeaswise，whenyoucometobeoldenough。’
　　’Youngpeopleofthepresentage，’saidtheCounsellorseverely，’havenorightfeelingofanysort，uponthesimplestmatter。LornaDoone，standforthfromcontactwiththatheirofparricide；andstateinyourownmellifluousvoice，whetheryouregardthisslaughterasapleasanttrifle。’
　　’Youknow，withoutanywordsofmine，’sheansweredverysoftly，yetnotwithdrawingfrommyhand，’thatalthoughIhavebeenseasonedwelltoeverykindofoutrage，amongmygentlerelatives，Ihavenotyetsopurelylostallsenseofrightandwrongastoreceivewhatyouhavesaid，aslightlyasyoudeclaredit。Youthinkitahappybasisforourfutureconcord。Idonotquitethinkthat，myuncle；neitherdoIquitebelievethatawordofitistrue。Inourhappyvalley，nine-tenthsofwhatissaidisfalse；andyouwerealwayswonttoarguethattrueandfalsearebutablindturneduponapivot。Withoutanyfailureofrespectforyourcharacter，gooduncle，Ideclinepolitelytobelieveawordofwhatyouhavetoldme。
　　Andevenifitwereprovedtome，allIcansayisthis，ifmyJohnwillhaveme，Iamhisforever。’
　　Thislongspeechwastoomuchforher；shehadoverratedherstrengthaboutit，andthesustenanceofirony。Soatlastshefellintomyarms，whichhadlongbeenwaitingforher；andthereshelaywithnoothersound，exceptagurglinginherthroat。
　　’Youoldvillain，’criedmymother，shakingherfistattheCounsellor，whileIcoulddonothingelsebuthold，andbendacross，mydarling，andwhispertodeafears；
　　’Whatisthegoodofthequality；ifthisisallthatcomesofit？Outoftheway!Youknowthewordsthatmakethedeadlymischief；butnotthewaysthathealthem。Givemethatbottle，ifhandsyouhave；whatistheuseofCounsellors？’
　　Isawthatdearmotherwascarriedaway；andindeedI
　　myselfwassomethinglikeit；withthepalefaceuponmybosom，andtheheavingoftheheart，andtheheatandcoldallthroughme，asmydarlingbreathedorlay。
　　MeanwhiletheCounsellorstoodback，andseemedalittlesorry；althoughofcourseitwasnotinhispowertobeatallashamedofhimself。
　　’Mysweetlove，mydarlingchild，’ourmotherwentontoLorna，inawaythatIshallneverforget，thoughI
　　livetobeahundred；’prettypet，notawordofitistrue，uponthatoldliar’soath；andifeverywordweretrue，poorchick，youshouldhaveourJohnallthemoreforit。YouandJohnweremadebyGodandmeantforoneanother，whateverfallsbetweenyou。Littlelamb，lookupandspeak：hereisyourownJohnandI；andthedeviltaketheCounsellor。’
　　Iwasamazedatmother’swords，beingsounlikeher；
　　whileIlovedherallthemorebecausesheforgotherselfso。InanothermomentinranAnnie，ayandLizziealso，knowingbysomemysticsensewhichIhaveoftennoticed，butnevercouldexplainthatsomethingwasastir，belongingtotheworldofwomen，yetforeigntotheeyesofmen。AndnowtheCounsellor，beingwell-born，althoughsuchaheartlessmiscreant，beckonedtometocomeaway；whichI，beingsmotheredwithwomen，wasonlytoogladtodo，assoonasmyownlovewouldletgoofme。
　　’Thatistheworstofthem，’saidtheoldman；whenI