reachedthetop；andhaltedtolookaboutmewell，beforetrustingtobroaddaylight。
ThewinterasIsaidbeforehadbeenaverymildone；
andnowthespringwastowardsothatbankandbushweretouchedwithit。ThevalleyintowhichIgazedwasfairwithearlypromise，havingshelterfromthewindandtakingallthesunshine。Thewillow-bushesoverthestreamhungasiftheywereanglingwithtasseledfloatsofgoldandsilver，burstinglikeabean-pod。Betweenthemcamethewaterlaughing，likeamaidatherowndancing，andspreadwiththatyoungbluewhichneverlivesbeyondtheApril。Andoneitherbank，themeadowruffledasthebreezecameby，openingthroughnewtuft，ofgreendaisy-budorcelandine，orashyglimpsenowandthenofthelove-lornprimrose。
ThoughIamsoblankofwit，orperhapsforthatsamereason，theselittlethingscomeanddwellwithme，andIamhappyaboutthem，andlongfornothingbetter。I
feelwitheverybladeofgrass，asifithadahistory；
andmakeachildofeverybudasthoughitknewandlovedme。Andbeingso，theyseemtotellmeofmyowndelusions，howIamnomorethanthey，exceptinself-
importance。
WhileIwasforgettingmuchofmanythingsthatharmone，andlettingofmythoughtsgowildtosoundsandsightsofnature，asweeternotethanthrushorouzeleverwooedamatein，floatedonthevalleybreezeatthequietturnofsundown。Thewordswereofanancientsong，fittolaughorcryat。
Love，aniftherebeone，Comemylovetobe，MyloveisfortheoneLovinguntome。
Notformetheshow，love，Ofagildedbliss；
Onlythoumustknow，love，Whatmyvalueis。
Ifinalltheearth，love，Thouhastnonebutme，Thisshallbemyworth，love：
Tobecheaptothee。
But，ifsothoueverStrivesttobefree，’TwillbemyendeavourTobedeartothee。
SoshallIhaveplea，love，IsthyheartandbreathClingingstilltothee，love，Inthedoomofdeath。
AllthisItookinwithgreateagerness，notforthesakeofthemeaningwhichisnodoubtanallegory，butforthepowerandrichness，andsoftnessofthesinging，whichseemedtomebetterthanweeverhadeveninOarechurch。ButallthetimeIkeptmyselfinablacknicheoftherock，wherethefallofthewaterbegan，lestthesweetsingerespyingmeshouldbealarmed，andfleeaway。ButpresentlyIventuredtolookforthwhereabushwas；andthenIbeheldtheloveliestsight——oneglimpseofwhichwasenoughtomakemekneelinthecoldestwater。
Bythesideofthestreamshewascomingtome，evenamongtheprimroses，asifshelovedthemall；andeveryflowerlookedthebrighter，ashereyeswereonthem，Icouldnotseewhatherfacewas，myheartsoawokeandtrembled；onlythatherhairwasflowingfromawreathofwhiteviolets，andthegraceofhercomingwasliketheappearanceofthefirstwind-flower。Thepalegleamoverthewesterncliffsthrewashadowoflightbehindher，asifthesunwerelingering。NeverdoIseethatlightfromtheclosingofthewest，eveninthesemyageddays，withoutthinkingofher。Ahme，ifitcomestothat，whatdoIseeofearthorheaven，withoutthinkingofher？
Thetremulousthrillofhersongwashangingonheropenlips；andsheglancedaround，asifthebirdswereaccustomedtomakeanswer。Tomeitwasathingofterrortobeholdsuchbeauty，andfeelmyselfthewhiletobesoverylowandcommon。ButscarcelyknowingwhatIdid，asifaropeweredrawingme，Icamefromthedarkmouthofthechasm；andstood，afraidtolookather。
Shewasturningtofly，notknowingme，andfrightened，perhaps，atmystature，whenIfellonthegrassasI
fellbeforehersevenyearsagonethatday，andIjustsaid，’LornaDoone!’
Sheknewmeatonce，frommymannerandways，andasmilebrokethroughhertrembling，assunshinecomesthroughaspen-leaves；andbeingsoclever，shesaw，ofcourse，thatsheneedednottofearme。
’Oh，indeed，’shecried，withafeintofangerbecauseshehadshownhercowardice，andyetinherheartshewaslaughing；’oh，ifyouplease，whoareyou，sir，andhowdoyouknowmyname？’
’IamJohnRidd，’Ianswered；’theboywhogaveyouthosebeautifulfish，whenyouwereonlyalittlething，sevenyearsagoto-day。’
’Yes，thepoorboywhowasfrightenedso，andobligedtohidehereinthewater。’
’Anddoyourememberhowkindyouwere，andsavedmylifebyyourquickness，andwentawayridinguponagreatman’sshoulder，asifyouhadneverseenme，andyetlookedbackthroughthewillow-trees？’
’Oh，yes，Iremembereverything；becauseitwassoraretoseeanyexcept——ImeanbecauseIhappentoremember。
Butyouseemnottoremember，sir，howperilousthisplaceis。’
Forshehadkepthereyesuponme；largeeyesofasoftness，abrightness，andadignitywhichmademefeelasifImustforeverloveandyetforeverknowmyselfunworthy。Unlessthemselvesshouldfillwithlove，whichisthespringofallthings。AndsoI
couldnotanswerher，butwasovercomewiththinkingandfeelingandconfusion。NeithercouldIlookagain；
onlywaitedforthemelodywhichmadeeverywordlikeapoemtome，themelodyofhervoice。Butshehadnottheleastideaofwhatwasgoingonwithme，anymorethanImyselfhad。
’Ithink，MasterRidd，youcannotknow，’shesaid，withhereyestakenfromme，’whatthedangersofthisplaceare，andthenatureofthepeople。’
’Yes，Iknowenoughofthat；andIamfrightenedgreatly，allthetime，whenIdonotlookatyou。’
Shewastooyoungtoanswermeinthestylesomemaidenswouldhaveused；themanner，Imean，whichnowwecallfromaforeignword’coquettish。’Andmorethanthat，shewastremblingfromrealfearofviolence，leststronghandsmightbelaidonme，andamiserableendofit。Andtotellthetruth，Igrewafraid；
perhapsfromakindofsympathy，andbecauseIknewthatevilcomesmorereadilythangoodtous。
Therefore，withoutmoreado，ortakinganyadvantage——althoughIwouldhavebeengladatheart，ifneedshadbeen，tokissherwithoutanythoughtofrudeness——itstruckmethatIhadbettergo，andhavenomoretosaytoheruntilnexttimeofcoming。Sowouldshelookthemoreformeandthinkthemoreaboutme，andnotgrowwearyofmywordsandthewantofchangethereisinme。For，ofcourse，IknewwhatachurlIwascomparedtoherbirthandappearance；butmeanwhileImightimprovemyselfandlearnamusicalinstrument。’Thewindhathadrawafterflyingstraw’
isasayingwehaveinDevonshire，made，peradventure，bysomebodywhohadseenthewaysofwomen。
’MistressLorna，Iwilldepart’——markyou，Ithoughtthatapowerfulword——’infearofcausingdisquiet。Ifanyrogueshotmeitwouldgrieveyou；Imakeboldtosayit，anditwouldbethedeathofmother。Fewmothershavesuchasonasme。Trytothinkofmenowandthen，andIwillbringyousomenew-laideggs，forouryoungbluehenisbeginning。’
’Ithankyouheartily，’saidLorna；’butyouneednotcometoseeme。Youcanputtheminmylittlebower，whereIamalmostalways——ImeanwhitherdailyIrepairtoreadandtobeawayfromthem。’
’Onlyshowmewhereitis。ThriceadayIwillcomeandstop——’
’Nay，MasterRidd，Iwouldnevershowthee——never，becauseofperil——onlythatsohappensitthouhastfoundthewayalready。’
Andshesmiledwithalightthatmademecaretocryoutfornootherway，excepttoherdearheart。ButonlytomyselfIcriedforanythingatall，havingenoughofmaninmetobebashfulwithyoungmaidens。
SoItouchedherwhitehandsoftlywhenshegaveittome，andfancyingthatshehadsighedwastouchedatheartaboutit，andresolvedtoyieldherallmygoods，althoughmymotherwasliving；andthengrewangrywithmyselfforamileormoreofwalkingtothinkshewouldcondescendso；andthen，fortherestofthehomewardroad，wasmadwitheverymanintheworldwhowoulddaretothinkofhavingher。
Toforgetone’sluckoflife，toforgetthecarkofcareandwitheringofyoungfingers；nottofeel，ornotbemovedby，allthechangeofthoughtandheart，fromlargeyoungheattothesinewylinesanddrybonesofoldage——thisiswhatIhavetodoereeverIcanmakeyouknowevenasadreamisknownhowIlovedmyLorna。Imyselfcanneverknow；nevercanconceive，ortreatitasathingofreason，nevercanbeholdmyselfdwellinginthemidstofit，andthinkthatthiswasI；
neithercanIwanderfarfromperpetualthoughtofit。
PerhapsIhavetwofarrowsofpigsreadyforthechapman；perhapsIhavetenstonesofwoolwaitingforthefactor。Itisallthesame。Ilookatboth，andwhatIsaytomyselfisthis：’WhichwouldLornachooseofthem？’Ofcourse，Iamafoolforthis；anymanmaycallmeso，andIwillnotquarrelwithhim，unlessheguessmysecret。Ofcourse，Ifetchmywit，ifitbeworththefetching，backagaintobusiness。Buttheremyheartisandmustbe；andallwholiketotrycancheatme，exceptuponparishmatters。
ThatweekIcoulddolittlemorethandreamanddreamandroveabout，seekingbyperpetualchangetofindthewaybacktomyself。Icarednotforthepeopleroundme，neithertookdelightinvictuals；butmadebelievetoeatanddrinkandblushedatanyquestions。Andbeingcalledthemasternow，head-farmer，andchiefyeoman，itirkedmemuchthatanyoneshouldtakeadvantageofme；yeteverybodydidsoassoonaseveritwasknownthatmywitsweregonemoon-raking。Forthatwasthewaytheylookedatit，notbeingabletocomprehendthegreatnessandtheloftiness。NeitherdoIblamethemmuch；forthewisestthingistolaughatpeoplewhenwecannotunderstandthem。I，formypart，tooknonotice；butinmyheartdespisedthemasbeingsofalessernature，whoneverhadseenLorna。YetI
wasvexed，andrubbedmyself，whenJohnFryspreadalloverthefarm，andevenattheshoeingforge，thatamaddoghadcomeandbittenme，fromtheothersideofMallond。
Thisseemslittletomenow；andsoitmighttoanyone；but，atthetime，itworkedmeuptoafeverofindignity。TomakeamaddogofLorna，tocompareallmyimaginingswhichwerestrange，Idoassureyou——thefacultynotbeingapttowork，tocounttheraisingofmysoulnomorethanhydrophobia!Allthisactedonmeso，thatIgaveJohnFrythesoundestthreshingthateverasheafofgoodcorndeserved，orabundleoftareswasblessedwith。Afterwardshewenthome，tootiredtotellhiswifethemeaningofit；butitprovedofservicetobothofthem，andanexamplefortheirchildren。
Nowtheclimateofthiscountryis——sofarasIcanmakeofit——tothrownomanintoextremes；andifhethrowhimselfsofar，topluckhimbackbychangeofweatherandtheneedoflookingafterthings。LestweshouldbeliketheSoutherns，forwhomtheskydoeseverything，andmensitunderawallandwatchbothfoodandfruitcomebeckoning。Theirskyisamothertothem；butoursagoodstepmothertous——fearingtohurtbyindulgence，andknowingthatseverityandchangeofmoodarewholesome。
Thespringbeingnowtooforward，achecktoitwasneedful；andintheearlypartofMarchtherecameachangeofweather。Alltheyounggrowthwasarrestedbyadrywindfromtheeast，whichmadebothfaceandfingersburnwhenamanwasdoingditching。Thelilacsandthewoodbines，justcrowdingforthinlittletufts，closekernellingtheirblossom，wereruffledback，likeasleeveturnedup，andnickedwithbrownatthecorners。Inthehedgesanyman，unlesshiseyeswereverydull，couldseethemischiefdoing。Therussetoftheyoungelm-bloomwasfaintobeinitsscaleagain；buthavingpushedforth，theremustbe，andturntoatawnycolour。Thehangersofthehazel，too，havingshedtheirdusttomakethenuts，didnotspreadtheirlittlecombsanddrythem，astheyoughttodo；butshrivelledatthebaseandfell，asifaknifehadcutthem。Andmorethanalltonoticewasatleastaboutthehedgestheshudderingofeverythingandtheshiveringsoundamongthemtowardthefeeblesun；suchaswemaketoapoorfireplacewhenseveraldoorsareopen。SometimesIputmyfacetowarmagainstthesoft，roughmaple-stem，whichfeelslikethefootofareddeer；butthepitilesseastwindcamethroughall，andtookandshookthecavedhedgeabacktillitskneeswereknockingtogether，andnothingcouldbeshelter。Thenwouldanyonehavingblood，andtryingtokeepathomewithit，runtoasturdytreeandhopetoeathisfoodbehindit，andlookforalittlesuntocomeandwarmhisfeetintheshelter。Andifitdidhemightstrikehisbreast，andtrytothinkhewaswarmer。