ThereforeImadealowbow，andwent；indoubtastowhichhadtherightofit。
Butthoughhehadsofardismissedme，Iwasnotyetquitefreetogo，inasmuchasIhadnotmoneyenoughtotakemeallthewaytoOare，unlessindeedIshouldgoafoot，andbegmysustenancebytheway，whichseemedtobebelowme。ThereforeIgotmyfewclothespacked，andmyfewdebtspaid，allreadytostartinhalfanhour，ifonlytheywouldgivemeenoughtosetoutupontheroadwith。ForIdoubtednot，beingyoungandstrong，thatIcouldwalkfromLondontoOareintendaysorintwelveatmost，whichwasnotmuchlongerthanhorse-work；onlyIhadbeenafool，asyouwillsaywhenyouhearit。ForafterreceivingfromMasterSpanktheamountofthebillwhichIhaddelivered——lessindeedbyfiftyshillingsthanthemoneymymotherhadgivenme，forIhadspentfiftyshillings，andmore，inseeingthetownandtreatingpeople，whichIcouldnotchargetoHisMajesty——Ihadfirstpaidallmydebtsthereout，whichwerenotverymany，andthensupposingmyselftobeanestablishedcreditoroftheTreasuryformycomingneeds，andalreadyscentingthecountryair，andforeseeingthejoyofmymother，whathadIdonebutspenthalfmybalance，ayandmorethanthree-quartersofit，uponpresentsformother，andAnnie，andLizzie，JohnFry，andhiswife，andBettyMuxworthy，BillDadds，JimSlocombe，and，inaword，halfoftherestofthepeopleatOare，includingalltheSnowefamily，whomusthavethingsgoodandhandsome？AndifImustwhileIamaboutit，hidenothingfromthosewhoreadme，IhadactuallyboughtforLornaathingthepriceofwhichquitefrightenedme，tilltheshopkeepersaiditwasnothingatall，andthatnoyoungman，withaladytolovehim，coulddaretoofferherrubbish，suchastheJewsoldacrosstheway。NowthemereideaofbeautifulLornaeverlovingme，whichhetalkedaboutaspatlythoughofcourseInevermentionedherasifitwereasettledthing，andheknewallaboutit，thatmereideasodrovemeabroad，thatifhehadaskedthreetimesasmuch，Icouldneverhavecountedthemoney。
NowinallthisIwasafoolofcourse——notforrememberingmyfriendsandneighbours，whichamanhasarighttodo，andindeedisboundtodo，whenhecomesfromLondon——butfornotbeingcertifiedfirstwhatcashIhadtogoonwith。Andtomygreatamazement，whenIwentwithanotherbillforthevictualsofonlythreedaysmore，andaweek’sexpenseonthehomewardroadreckonedverynarrowly，MasterSpanknotonlyrefusedtograntmeanyinterview，butsentmeoutapieceofbluepaper，lookinglikeabutcher’sticket，andbearingthesewordsandnomore，’JohnRidd，gotothedevil。Hewhowillnotwhenhemay，whenhewill，heshallhavenay。’FromthisIconcludedthatIhadlostfavourinthesightofChiefJusticeJeffreys。
Perhapsbecausemyevidencehadnotprovedofanyvalue!perhapsbecausehemeanttoletthematterlie，tillcastonhim。
Anyhow，itwasareasonofmuchgrief，andsomeangertome，andverygreatanxiety，disappointment，andsuspense。Forherewasthetimeofthehaygonepast，andtheharvestofsmallcorncomingon，andthetroutnowrisingattheyellowSally，andtheblackbirdseatingourwhite-heartcherriesIwassure，thoughI
couldnotseethem，andwhowastodoanygoodformother，orstopherfromweepingcontinually？Andmorethanthis，whatwasbecomeofLorna？Perhapsshehadcastmeawayaltogether，asaflouterandachangeling；
perhapsshehaddrownedherselfintheblackwell；
perhapsandthatwasworstofallshewasevenmarried，childasshewas，tothatvileCarverDoone，iftheDoonesevercaredaboutmarrying!ThatlastthoughtsentmedownatoncetowatchforMr。Spankagain，resolvedthatifIcouldcatchhim，spankhimI
wouldtoaprettygoodtune，althoughsixteeninfamily。
However，therewasnosuchthingastofindhim；andtheushervowedhavingordersIdoubtthathewasgonetotheseaforthegoodofhishealth，havingsadlyoverworkedhimself；andthatnonebutapoordevillikehimself，whoneverhadhandlingofmoney，wouldstayinLondonthisfoul，hotweather；whichwaslikelytobringtheplaguewithit。Herewasanothernewterrorforme，whohadheardoftheplaguesofLondon，andthehorriblethingsthathappened；andsogoingbacktomylodgingsatonce，Iopenedmyclothesandsoughtforspots，especiallyasbeingsolongatahairyfellmonger’s；butfindingnone，IfelldownandthankedGodforthatsame，andvowedtostartforOareto-morrow，withmycarbineloaded，comewealcomewoe，comesuncomeshower；thoughalltheparishshouldlaughatme，forbeggingmywayhomeagain，afterthebravethingssaidofmygoing，asifIhadbeentheKing’scousin。
ButIwassavedinsomedegreefromthisloweringofmypride，andwhatmatteredmore，ofmother’s；forgoingtobuywithmylastcrown-pieceafteralldemandswerepaidalittleshotandpowder，moreneedfulontheroadalmostthanevenshoesorvictuals，atthecornerofthestreetImetmygoodfriendJeremyStickles，newlycomeinsearchofme。Itookhimbacktomylittleroom——mineatleasttillto-morrowmorning——andtoldhimallmystory，andhowmuchIfeltaggrievedbyit。Buthesurprisedmeverymuch，byshowingnosurpriseatall。
’Itisthewayoftheworld，Jack。Theyhavegottenalltheycanfromthee，andwhyshouldtheyfeedtheefurther？Wefeednotadeadpig，Itrow，butbastehimwellwithbrineandrue。Nay，wedonotvictualhimuponthedayofkilling；whichtheyhavedonetothee。
Thouartaluckyman，John；thouhastgottenoneday’swages，oratanyratehalfaday，afterthyworkwasrendered。Godhavemercyonme，John!ThethingsI
seearemanifold；andsoismyregardofthem。Whatusetoinsistonthis，ormakeaspecialpointofthat，orholdbysomethingsaidofold，whenadifferentmoodwason？Itellthee，Jack，allmenareliars；andheistheleastonewhopressesnottoohardonthemforlying。’
Thiswasallquitedarktome，forIneverlookedatthingslikethat，andneverwouldownmyselfaliar，notatleasttootherpeople，noreventomyself，althoughImighttoGodsometimes，whentroublewasuponme。Andifitcomestothat，nomanhasanyrighttobecalleda’liar’forsmoothingoverthingsunwitting，throughdutytohisneighbour。
’Fivepoundsthoushalthave，Jack，’saidJeremySticklessuddenly，whileIwasallabroadwithmyselfastobeingaliarornot；’fivepounds，andIwilltakemychanceofwringingitfromthatgreatrogueSpank。TenIwouldhavemadeit，John，butforbadlucklately。Putbackyourbitsofpaper，lad；Iwillhavenoacknowledgment。JohnRidd，nononsensewithme!’
ForIwasreadytokisshishand，tothinkthatanymaninLondonthemeanestandmostsuspiciousplace，uponallGod’searthshouldtrustmewithfivepounds，withoutevenareceiptforit!ItovercamemesothatIsobbed；for，afterall，thoughbiginbody，Iambutachildatheart。Itwasnotthefivepoundsthatmovedme，butthewayofgivingit；andaftersomuchbittertalk，thegreattrustinmygoodness。
Itwasthebeginningofwheat-harvest，whenIcametoDunstertown，havingwalkedallthewayfromLondon，andbeingsomewhatfootsore。Forthoughfivepoundswasenoughtokeepmeinfoodandlodgingupontheroad，andleavememanyashillingtogivetofarpoorertravellers，itwouldhavebeennothingforhorse-hire，asIknewtoowellbythepricesJeremyStickleshadpaiduponourwaytoLondon。NowIneversawaprettiertownthanDunsterlookedthatevening；
forsoothtosay，Ihadalmostlostallhopeofreachingitthatnight，althoughthecastlewaslonginview。Butbeingoncethere，mytroublesweregone，atleastasregardedwayfaring；formother’scousin，theworthytannerwithwhomwehadsleptonthewaytoLondon，wasinsuchindignationattheplightinwhichIcamebacktohim，afoot，andweary，andalmostshoeless——nottospeakofupperthings——thathesworethen，bythemercyofGod，thatiftheschemesabrewingroundhim，againstthosebloodyPapists，shouldcometoanyheadorshape，andshowgoodchanceofsucceeding，hewouldriskathousandpounds，asthoughitwereapenny。
Itoldhimnottodoit，becauseIhadheardotherwise，butwasnotatlibertytotellone-tenthofwhatI
knew，andindeedhadseeninLondontown。Butofthishetooknoheed，becauseIonlynoddedathim；andhecouldnotmakeitout。Forittakesanoldman，oratleastamiddle-agedone，tonodandwink，withanypoweronthebrainsofothermen。However，IthinkI
madehimknowthatthebadstateinwhichIcametohistown，andthegreatshameIhadwroughtforhimamongthefolkroundthecard-tableattheLuttrellArms，wasnottobe，eventhere，attributedtoKingCharlestheSecond，noreventohiscounsellors，buttomyownspeedoftravelling，whichhadbeatpost-horses。Forbeingmuchdistraughtinmind，anddesperateinbody，I
hadmadeallthewayfromLondontoDunsterinsixdays，andnomore。Itmaybeonehundredandseventymiles，Icannottelltoafurlongortwo，especiallyasIlostmywaymorethanadozentimes；butatanyratethereinsixdaysIwas，andmostkindlytheyreceivedme。Thetannerhadsomeexcellentdaughters，Iforgethowmany；veryprettydamsels，andwellsetup，andabletomakegoodpastry。Butthoughtheyaskedmemanyquestions，andmadeasortoflordofme，andofferedtodarnmystockingswhichintruthrequiredit，Ifellasleepinthemidstofthem，althoughI
wouldnotacknowledgeit；andtheysaid，’Poorcousin!
heisweary’，andledmetoablessedbed，andkissedmeallroundlikeswan’sdown。
InthemorningalltheExmoorhills，thethoughtofwhichhadfrightenedmeattheendofeachday’stravel，seemednomorethanbushelstome，asIlookedforththebedroomwindow，andthankedGodforthesightofthem。Andevenso，Ihadnottoclimbthem，atleastbymyownlabour。Formymostworthyuncleasweoftcallaparent’scousin，findingitimpossibletokeepmefortheday，andowningindeedthatIwasrightinhasteningtomymother，vowedthatwalkI
shouldnot，eventhoughhelosthisSaturdayhidesfromMineheadandfromWatchett。Accordinglyhesentmeforthontheverystrongestnaghehad，andthemaidenscametowishmeGod-speed，andkissedtheirhandsatthedoorway。Itmademeproudandgladtothinkthatafterseeingsomuchoftheworld，andhavingheldmyownwithit，Iwascomeoncemoreamongmyownpeople，andfoundthemkinder，andmorewarm-hearted，ayandbetterlookingtoo，thanalmostanyIhadhappeneduponinthemightycityofLondon。
ButhowshallItellyouthethingsIfelt，andtheswellingofmyheartwithinme，asIdrewnearer，andmorenear，totheplaceofallIlovedandowned，tothehauntofeverywarmremembrance，thenestofallthefledglinghopes——inaword，tohome？ThefirstsheepIbeheldonthemoorwithagreatredJ。R。onhissideformotherwouldhavethemmarkedwithmyname，insteadofherownastheyshouldhavebeen，I
doassureyoumyspiritleaped，andallmysightcametomyeyes。Ishoutedout，’Jem，boy!’——forthatwashisname，andararehandhewasatfighting——andheknewmeinspiteofthestrangerhorse；andIleanedoverandstrokedhishead，andsworeheshouldneverbemutton。AndwhenIwaspassedhesetoffatfullgallop，tocalltherestoftheJ。R。’stogether，andtellthemyoungmasterwascomehomeatlast。
Butblessyourheart，andmyownaswell，itwouldtakemealltheafternoontolaybeforeyouone-tenthofthethingswhichcamehometomeinthatonehalf-hour，asthesunwassinking，intherealwayheoughttosink。
Itouchedmyhorsewithnospurnorwhip，feelingthatmyslowwitswouldgo，ifthesightscametoofastoverthem。Herewasthepoolwherewewashedthesheep，andtherewasthehollowthatoozedaway，whereIhadshotthreewildducks。Herewasthepeat-rickthathidmydinner，whenIcouldnotgohomeforit，andtherewasthebushwiththethymegrowingroundit，whereAnniehadfoundagreatswarmofourbees。Andnowwasthecornerofthedrystonewall，wherethemoorgaveoverinearnest，andthepartridgeswhiskedfromitintothecornlands，andcalledthattheirsupperwasready，andlookedatourhouseandthericksastheyran，andwouldwaitforthatcomforttillwinter。
AndthereIsaw——butletmego——Anniewastoomuchforme。Shenearlypulledmeoffmyhorse，andkissedtheverymouthofthecarbine。
“Iknewyouwouldcome。OhJohn!OhJohn!IhavewaitedhereeverySaturdaynight；andIsawyouforthelastmileormore，butIwouldnotcomeroundthecorner，forfearthatIshouldcry，John，andthennotcrywhenIgotyou。NowImaycryasmuchasIlike，andyouneednottrytostopme，John，becauseIamsohappy。Butyoumustn’tcryyourself，John；whatwillmotherthinkofyou？Shewillbesojealousofme。’