’Well，mybowerhasserveditstime’，saidLorna，blushingassherememberedallthathadhappenedthere；
’andmybowernowishere，John。ButIamsosorrytothinkofallthepoorwomenfloodedoutoftheirhousesandshelteringinthesnowdrifts。However，thereisonegoodofit：theycannotsendmanymenagainstus，withallthistroubleuponthem。’
’Youareright，’Ireplied；’howcleveryouare!andthatiswhytherewereonlythreetocutoffMasterStickles。Andnowweshallbeatthem，Imakenodoubt，eveniftheycomeatall。AndIdefythemtofirethehouse：thethatchistoowetforburning。’
Wesentallthewomentobedquiteearly，exceptGwennyCarfaxandouroldBetty。Thesetwoweallowedtostayup，becausetheymightbeusefultous，iftheycouldkeepfromquarreling。Formypart，Ihadlittlefear，afterwhatLornahadtoldme，astotheresultofthecombat。ItwasnotlikelythattheDoonescouldbringmorethaneightortenmenagainstus，whiletheirhomeswereinsuchdanger：andtomeetthesewehadeightgoodmen，includingJeremy，andmyself，allwellarmedandresolute，besidesourthreefarm-servants，andtheparish-clerk，andtheshoemaker。Thesefivecouldnotbetrustedmuchforanyvaliantconduct，althoughtheyspokeveryconfidentlyovertheircansofcider。Neitherweretheirweaponsfittedformuchexecution，unlessitwereatclosequarters，whichtheywouldbelikelytoavoid。BillDaddshadasickle，JemSlocombeaflail，thecobblerhadborrowedtheconstable’sstafffortheconstablewouldnotattend，becausetherewasnowarrant，andtheparishclerkhadbroughthispitch-pipe，whichwasenoughtobreakanyman’shead。ButJohnFry，ofcourse，hadhisblunderbuss，loadedwithtin-tacksandmarbles，andmorelikelytokillthemanwhodischargeditthananyotherperson：butweknewthatJohnhaditonlyforshow，andtodescribeitsqualities。
Nowitwasmygreatdesire，andmychiefesthope，tocomeacrossCarverDoonethatnight，andsettlethescorebetweenus；notbyanyshotinthedark，butbyaconflictmantoman。Asyet，sinceIcametofull-grownpower，IhadnevermetanyonewhomIcouldnotplayteetotumwith：butnowatlastIhadfoundamanwhosestrengthwasnottobelaughedat。Icouldguessitinhisface，Icouldtellitinhisarms，I