’Whowillthreshitoutofyou，andstarveit，andswearitoutofyou!’wasthemeaningofmyimprecation：butLizzie，notdreamingasyetofsuchthings，couldnotunderstandme，andwasratherthankful；thereforesheansweredquietly，——
　　’Theletterisinthelittlecupboard，neartheheadofLadyLorna’sbed，wheresheusedtokeepthediamondnecklace，whichwecontrivedtogetstolen。’
　　WithoutanotherwordIrushedsothateveryboardinthehouseshookuptomylostLorna’sroom，andtorethelittlewall-nicheopenandespiedmytreasure。Itwasassimple，andashomely，andloving，asevenI
　　couldwish。Partofitranasfollows，——theotherpartsitbehovesmenottoopenouttostrangers：——’Myownlove，andsometimelord，——Takeitnotamissofme，thatevenwithoutfarewell，Igo；forIcannotpersuadethementowait，yourreturnbeingdoubtful。Mygreat-uncle，somegrandlord，isawaitingmeatDunster，havingfearofventuringtoonearthisExmoorcountry。I，whohavebeensolawlessalways，andthechildofoutlaws，amnowtoatoneforthis，itseems，bylivinginacourtoflaw，andunderspecialsurveillanceastheycallit，IbelieveofHisMajesty’sCourtofChancery。Myuncleisappointedmyguardianandmaster；andImustlivebeneathhiscare，untilIamtwenty-oneyearsold。Tomethisappearsadreadfulthing，andveryunjust，andcruel；forwhyshouldIlosemyfreedom，throughheritageoflandandgold？Iofferedtoabandonalliftheywouldonlyletmego；Iwentdownonmykneestothem，andsaidI
　　wantedtitlesnot，neitherland，normoney；onlytostaywhereIwas，wherefirstIhadknownhappiness。
　　Buttheyonlylaughedandcalledme“child，“andsaidI
　　musttalkofthattotheKing’sHighChancellor。Theirorderstheyhad，andmustobeythem；andMasterStickleswasorderedtoo，tohelpastheKing’sCommissioner。Andthen，althoughitpiercedmyheartnottosayone“goodbye，John，“Iwasgladuponthewholethatyouwerenotheretodisputeit。ForIamalmostcertainthatyouwouldnot，withoutforcetoyourself，haveletyourLornagotopeoplewhonever，nevercancareforher。’
　　Heremydarlinghadweptagain，bythetokensonthepaper；andthentherefollowedsomesweetwords，toosweetformetochatterthem。Butshefinishedwiththesenoblelines，whichbeingcommontoallhumanity，inacaseofsteadfastloveIdonoharm，butratherhelpalltruelovebyrepeating。’Ofonethingrestyouwellassured——andIdohopethatitmayproveofservicetoyourrest，love，elsewouldmyownbebroken——nodifferenceofrank，orfortune，oroflifeitself，shallevermakemeswervefromtruthtoyou。
　　Wehavepassedthroughmanytroubles，dangers，anddispartments，butneveryetwasdoubtbetweenus；
　　neitherevershallbe。Eachhastrustedwelltheother；andstilleachmustdoso。ThoughtheytellyouIamfalse，thoughyourownmindharboursit，fromthesenseofthingsaround，andyourownundervaluing，yettakecounselofyourheart，andcastsuchthoughtsawayfromyou；beingunworthyofitselftheymustheunworthyalsooftheonewhodwellsthere；andthatoneis，andevershallbe，yourownLornaDugal。’
　　Somepeoplecannotunderstandthattearsshouldcomefrompleasure；butwhetherfrompleasureorfromsorrowmixedastheyareinthetwistedstringsofaman’sheart，orawoman’s，greattearsfellfrommystupideyes，evenontheblotsofLorna’s。
　　’Nodoubtitisallover，’mymindsaidtomebitterly；
　　’trustme，allshallyetberight，’myheartrepliedverysweetly。
　　Somepeoplemaylookdownuponusforourslavishwaysastheymaychoosetocallthem，butinourpartofthecountry，wedolovetomentiontitle，andtorollitonourtongues，withaconscienceandacomfort。
　　Evenifamanknowsnot，throughfaultofeducation，whotheDukeofthisis，ortheEarlofthat，itwillneverdoforhimtosayso，lesttheroomlookdownonhim。Thereforehemustnodhishead，andsay，’Ah，tohesure!IknowhimaswellaseverIknowmyowngoodwoman’sbrother。HemarriedLordFlipflap’sseconddaughter，andapreciouslifesheledhim。’Whereupontheroomlooksupathim。ButI，beingquiteunabletocarryallthisinmyhead，asIought[m.kanbaapp.com]，wasspeedilyputdownbypeopleofanobletendency，aptatLords，andpatwithDukes，andknowingmoreabouttheKingthanHisMajestywouldhaverequested。Therefore，Ifellbackinthought，notdaringinwordstodoso，uponthetitlesofourhorses。Andallthesehorsesdeservedtheirnames，nothavingmerelyinherited，butbytheirowndoingearnedthem。Smiler，forinstance，hadbeensocalled，notsomuchfromahabitofsmiling，asfromhisgeneralgeniality，whitenose，andwhiteankle。
　　Thisworthyhorsewasnowinyears，buthaleandgayasever；andwhenyoulethimoutofthestable，hecouldneighandwhinny，andmakemenandhorsesknowit。Ontheotherhand，Kickumswasahorseofmoroseandsurlyorder；harbouringuprevenge，andleadingaridertofalseconfidence。Verysmoothlyhewouldgo，andasgentleasaturtle-dove；untilhisriderfullybelievedthatapack-threadwasenoughforhim，andapatofapprovaluponhisnecktheaimandcrownofhisworthylife。Thensuddenlyupwenthishindfeettoheaven，andtheriderforthemostpartflewoverhisnose；whereupongoodKickumswouldtakeadvantageofhisfavourablepositiontocomeandbiteapieceoutofhisback。Nowinmypresentstateofmind，beingunderstoodofnobody，havingnonetobearmecompany，neitherwishingtohaveany，anindefinitekindofattractiondrewmeintoKickum’ssociety。Abondofmutualsympathywassoonestablishedbetweenus；I
　　wouldridenootherhorse，neitherKickumsberiddenbyanyotherman。Andthisgoodhorsebecameasjealousaboutmeasadogmightbe；andwouldlashout，orrunteethforemost，atanyonewhocamenearhimwhenIwasonhisback。
　　Thisseason，thereapingofthecorn，whichhadbeenbutayearagosopleasantandsolightsome，wasbecomeaheavylabour，andathingforgrumblingratherthanforgladness。However，forthesakeofall，itmustbeattendedto，andwithasfairashowofspiritandalacrityasmightbe。Forotherwisetherestwoulddrag，anddroptheirhandsandidle，beingquickertotakeinfectionofdullnessthanofdiligence。Andtheharvestwasaheavyone，evenheavierthantheyearbefore，althoughofpoorerquality。ThereforewasI
　　forcedtoworkashardasanyhorsecouldduringallthedaylighthours，anddefertillnightthebroodinguponmymisfortune。Butthedarknessalwaysfoundmestiffwithwork，andweary，andlessabletothinkthantodream，maybe，ofLorna。Andnowthehousewassodullandlonesome，wantingAnnie’sprettypresence，andthelightofLorna’seyes，thatamanhadnotemptationaftersupper-timeeventositandsmokeapipe。
　　ForLizzie，thoughsolearned，andpleasantwhenitsuitedher，neverhadtakenverykindlytomyloveforLorna，andbeingofaproudandslightlyupstartnature，couldnotbeartobeeclipsedinbearing，looks，andbreeding，andeveninclothes，bythestranger。ForonethingIwillsayoftheDoones，thatwhetherbypurchaseorplunder，theyhadalwaysdressedmydarlingwell，withherownsweettastetohelpthem。
　　AndthoughLizzie’snaturalhateofthemaidasaDooneandburdenedwithfather’sdeathshouldhavebeenchangedtoremorsewhenshelearnedofLorna’srealparentage，itwasonlyalteredtosullenness，anddiscontentwithherself，forfrequentrudenesstoaninnocentperson，andoneofsuchhighdescent。
　　Moreover，thechildhadimbibedstrangeideasastoouraristocracy，partlyperhapsfromherownwayofthinking，andpartlyfromreadingofhistory。Forwhile，fromonepointofviewshelookedupatthemverydemurely，ascommissionedbyGodforthecountry’sgood；fromanothersightshedislikedthem，asreadytosacrificetheirbestandfollowtheirworstmembers。
　　Yetwhyshouldthiswenchdaretojudgeuponamattersofarbeyondher，andformopinionswhichsheknewbetterthandeclarebeforemother？Butwithmeshehadnosuchscruple，forIhadnoauthorityoverher；andmyintellectshelookeddownupon，becauseIpraisedherownso。Thusshemadeherselfveryunpleasanttome；bylittlejagsandjerksofsneering，spedasthoughunwittingly；whichIwhonowconsideredmyselfalliedtothearistocracy，andperhapstookairsonthataccounthadnotwitenoughtoparry，yethadwoundenoughtofeel。
　　Nowanyonewhodoesnotknowexactlyhowmothersfeelandthink，wouldhaveexpectedmymotherthanwhomcouldbenobetteronetopetme，andmakemuchofme，undermysadtrouble；tohangwithanxietyonmylooks，andshedhertearswithmineifany，andseasoneverydishofmeatputbyforherJohn’sreturn。Andifthewholetruthmustbetold，Ididexpectthatsortofthing，andthoughtwhataplagueitwouldbetome；yetnotgettingit，wasvexed，asifbysomenewinjury。
　　FormotherwasaspecialcreatureasIsupposeweallare，beingthewarmestofthewarm，whenfiredatthepropercorner；andyet，iftakenatthewrongpoint，youwouldsayshewasincombustible。
　　HenceitcametopassthatIhadnooneeventospeakto，aboutLornaandmygrievances；forCaptainStickleswasnowgonesouthward；andJohnFry。ofcourse，wastoolowforit，althoughamarriedman，andwellunderhiswife’smanagement。Butfindingmyselfunableatlasttobearthisanylonger，uponthefirstdaywhenallthewheatwascut，andthestookssetupineveryfield，yetnonequitefitforcarrying，IsaddledgoodKickumsatfiveinthemorning，andwithoutawordtomotherforalittleanxietymightdohergoodoffI
　　setforMollandparish，tohavethecounselandthecomfortofmydarlingAnnie。
　　Thehorsetookmeoverthegroundsofasttherebeingfewbettertogowhenheliked，thatbynineo’clockAnniewasinmyarms，andblushingtothecolourofWinnie’scheeks，withsuddendelightandyounghappiness。
　　’Youpreciouslittlesoul!’Icried：’howdoesTombehavetoyou？’
　　’Hush!’saidAnnie：’howdareyouask？Heisthekindest，andthebest，andthenoblestofallmen，John；notevensettingyourselfaside。Nowlooknotjealous，John：soitis。Weallhavespecialgifts，youknow。Youareasgoodasyoucanbe，John；butmyhusband’sspecialgiftisnobilityofcharacter。’Hereshelookedatme，asonewhohasdiscoveredsomethingquiteunknown。
　　’Iamdevilishgladtohearit，’saidI，beingtouchedatgoingdownso：’keephimtothatmark，mydear；andcorkthewhiskybottle。’
　　’Yes，darlingJohn，’sheansweredquickly，notdesiringtoopenthatsubject，andbeingtoosweettoresentit：
　　’andhowislovelyLorna？WhatanageitissinceI
　　haveseenyou!Isupposewemustthankherforthat。’
　　’Youmaythankherforseeingmenow，’saidI；’orrather，’——seeinghowhurtshelooked，——’youmaythankmyknowledgeofyourkindness，andmydesiretospeakofhertoasoft-hearteddearlittlesoullikeyou。I
　　thinkallthewomenaregonemad。Evenmothertreatsmeshamefully。AndasforLizzie——’HereIstopped，knowingnowordsstrongenough，withoutshockingAnnie。
　　’DoyoumeantosaythatLornaisgone？’askedAnnie，ingreatamazement；yetleapingatthetruth，aswomendo，withnothingatalltoleapfrom。
　　’Gone。AndInevershallseeheragain。Itservesmerightforaspiringso。’
　　Beinggrievedatmymanner，sheledmeinwherenonecouldinterruptus；andinspiteofallmydejection，I
　　couldnothelpnoticinghowveryprettyandevenelegantallthingswerearound。ForweuponExmoorhavelittletaste；allwecareforiswarmcomfort，andplentytoeatandtogiveaway，andaheartysmackineverything。ButSquireFaggushadseentheworld，andkeptcompanywithgreatpeople；andthetastehehadfirstdisplayedintheshoeingoffarmers’horseswhichledalmosttohisruin，bybringinghimintojealousy，andflattery，anddashingwayshadnowbeencultivatedinLondon，andbymoonlight，sothatnonecouldhelpadmiringit。
　　’Well!’Icried，forthemomentdroppingcareandwoeinastonishment：’wehavenothinglikethisatPlover’sBarrows；norevenUncleReuben。Idohopeitishonest，Annie？’
　　’WouldIsitinachairthatwasnotmyown？’askedAnnie，turningcrimson，anddroppingdefiantly，andwithawhiskofherdresswhichIneverhadseenbefore，intotheverygrandestone：’wouldIlieonacouch，brotherJohn，doyouthink，unlessgoodmoneywaspaidforit？Becauseotherpeopleareclever，John，youneednotgrudgethemtheirearnings。’
　　’Acouch!’Ireplied：’whywhatcanyouwantwithacouchintheday-time，Annie？Acouchisasmallbed，setupinaroomwithoutspaceforagoodfour-poster。