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，——