ButIcouldnothelponestupidsob，thoughmadwithmyselfforallowingit，butitcametoosharpforpridetostayit，andittoldaworldofthings。Lornaheardit，andrantome，withherbrighteyesfullofwonder，pity，andgreatkindness，asifamazedthatIhadmorethanasimplelikingforher。Thensheheldoutbothhandstome；andItookandlookedatthem。
’MasterRidd，Ididnotmean，’shewhispered，verysoftly，’Ididnotmeantovexyou。’
’Ifyouwouldbeloathtovexme，noneelseinthisworldcandoit，’Iansweredoutofmygreatlove，butfearingyettolookather，mineeyesnotbeingstrongenough。
’Comeawayfromthisbrightplace，’sheanswered，tremblinginherturn；’Iamwatchedandspiedoflate。
Comebeneaththeshadows，John。’
IwouldhaveleapedintothevalleyoftheshadowofdeathasdescribedbythelateJohnBunyan，onlytohearhercallme’John’；thoughApollyonwerelurkingthere，andDespairshouldlockmein。
Shestoleacrossthesilentgrass；butIstrodehotlyafterher；fearwasallbeyondmenow，exceptthefearoflosingher。Icouldnotbutbeholdhermanner，asshewentbeforeme，allhergrace，andlovelysweetness，andhersenseofwhatshewas。
Sheledmetoherownrichbower，whichItoldofoncebefore；andifinspringitwereasight，whatwasitinsummerglory？Butalthoughmymindhadnoticeofitsfairnessanditswonder，notaheedmyhearttookofit，neitherdweltitinmypresencemorethanflowingwater。Allthatinmypresencedwelt，allthatinmyheartwasfelt，wasthemaidenmovinggently，andafraidtolookatme。
Fornowthepowerofmylovewasabidingonher，newtoher，unknowntoher；notathingtospeakabout，noreventothinkclearly；onlyjusttofeelandwonder，withapainofsweetness。Shecouldlookatmenomore，neithercouldshelookaway，withastudiedmanner——onlytoletfallhereyes，andblush，andbeputoutwithme，andstillmorewithherself。
Ileftherquitealone；thoughclose，thoughtinglingtohaveholdofher。Evenherrighthandwasdroppedandlayamongthemosses。NeitherdidItrytostealoneglimpsebelowhereyelids。LifeanddeathtomewerehangingonthefirstglanceIshouldwin；yetI
letitbeso。
Afterlongorshort——Iknownot，yetereIwasweary，ereIyetbegantothinkorwishforanyanswer——Lornaslowlyraisedhereyelids，withagleamofdewbelowthem，andlookedatmedoubtfully。Anylookwithsomuchinitnevermetmygazebefore。
’Darling，doyouloveme？’wasallthatIcouldsaytoher。
’Yes，Ilikeyouverymuch，’sheanswered，withhereyesgonefromme，andherdarkhairfallingover，soasnottoshowmethings。
’Butdoyouloveme，Lorna，Lorna；doyoulovememorethanalltheworld？’
’No，tobesurenot。NowwhyshouldI？’
’Intruth，Iknownotwhyyoushould。OnlyIhopedthatyoudid，Lorna。Eitherlovemenotatall，orasIloveyouforever。’
’JohnIloveyouverymuch；andIwouldnotgrieveyou。
Youarethebravest，andthekindest，andthesimplestofallmen——Imeanofallpeople——Ilikeyouverymuch，MasterRidd，andIthinkofyoualmosteveryday。’
’Thatwillnotdoforme，Lorna。NotalmosteverydayIthink，buteveryinstantofmylife，ofyou。ForyouIwouldgiveupmyhome，myloveofalltheworldbeside，mydutytomydearestones，foryouIwouldgiveupmylife，andhopeoflifebeyondit。Doyoulovemeso？’
’Notbyanymeans，’saidLorna；’no，Ilikeyouverymuch，whenyoudonottalksowildly；andIliketoseeyoucomeasifyouwouldfillourvalleyup，andIliketothinkthatevenCarverwouldbenothinginyourhands——butastolikingyoulikethat，whatshouldmakeitlikely？especiallywhenIhavemadethesignal，andforsometwomonthsormoreyouhaveneverevenansweredit!Ifyoulikemesoferociously，whydoyouleavemeforotherpeopletodojustastheylikewithme？’
’Todoastheyliked!Oh，Lorna，nottomakeyoumarryCarver？’
’No，MasterRidd，benotfrightenedso；itmakesmefeartolookatyou。’
’ButyouhavenotmarriedCarveryet？Sayquick!Whykeepmewaitingso？’
’OfcourseIhavenot，MasterRidd。ShouldIbehereifIhad，thinkyou，andallowingyoutolikemeso，andtoholdmyhand，andmakemelaugh，asIdeclareyoualmostdosometimes？Andatothertimesyoufrightenme。’
’DidtheywantyoutomarryCarver？Tellmeallthetruthofit。’
’Notyet，notyet。Theyarenothalfsoimpetuousasyouare，John。Iamonlyjustseventeen，youknow，andwhoistothinkofmarrying？Buttheywantedmetogivemyword，andbeformallybetrothedtohiminthepresenceofmygrandfather。Itseemsthatsomethingfrightenedthem。ThereisayouthnamedCharleworthDoone，everyonecallshim“Charlie“；aheadstrongandagayyoungman，verygallantinhislooksandmanner；
andmyuncle，theCounsellor，chosetofancythatCharlielookedatmetoomuch，comingbymygrandfather’scottage。’
HereLornablushedsothatIwasfrightened，andbegantohatethisCharliemore，agreatdealmore，thanevenCarverDoone。
’Hehadbetternot，’saidI；’Iwillflinghimoverit，ifhedare。Heshallseetheethroughtheroof，Lorna，ifatallheseethee。’
’MasterRidd，youareworsethanCarver!Ithoughtyouweresokind-hearted。Well，theywantedmetopromise，andeventoswearasolemnoathathingIhaveneverdoneinmylifethatIwouldwedmyeldestcousin，thissameCarverDoone，whoistwiceasoldasIam，beingthirty-fiveandupwards。ThatwaswhyIgavethetokenthatIwishedtoseeyou，MasterRidd。Theypointedouthowmuchitwasforthepeaceofallthefamily，andformineownbenefit；butIwouldnotlistenforamoment，thoughtheCounsellorwasmosteloquent，andmygrandfatherbeggedmetoconsider，andCarversmiledhispleasantest，whichisatrulyfrightfulthing。Thenbothheandhiscraftyfatherwereforusingforcewithme；butSirEnsorwouldnothearofit；andtheyhaveputoffthatextremeuntilheshallbepastitsknowledge，or，atleast，beyondpreventingit。AndnowIamwatched，andspied，andfollowed，andhalfmylittlelibertyseemstobetakenfromme。Icouldnotbeherespeakingwithyou，eveninmyownnookandrefuge，butfortheaid，andskill，andcourageofdearlittleGwennyCarfax。Sheisnowmychiefreliance，andthroughheraloneIhopetobaffleallmyenemies，sinceothershaveforsakenme。’
Tearsofsorrowandreproachwerelurkinginhersoftdarkeyes，untilinfewestwordsItoldherthatmyseemingnegligencewasnothingbutmybitterlossandwretchedabsencefaraway；ofwhichIhadsovainlystriventogiveanytidingswithoutdangertoher。
Whensheheardallthis，andsawwhatIhadbroughtfromLondonwhichwasnothinglessthanaringofpearlswithasapphireinthemidstofthem，asprettyascouldwellbefound，sheletthegentletearsflowfast，andcameandsatsoclosebesideme，thatI
trembledlikeafoldedsheepatthebleatingofherlamb。Butrecoveringcomfortquickly，withoutmoreado，Iraisedherlefthandandobserveditwithaniceregard，wonderingatthesmallblueveins，andcurves，andtaperingwhiteness，andthepointsitfinishedwith。Mywonderseemedtopleasehermuch，herselfsowellaccustomedtoit，andnotfondofwatchingit。
Andthen，beforeshecouldsayaword，orguesswhatI
wasupto，asquickaseverIturnedhandinaboutofwrestling，onherfingerwasmyring——sapphirefortheveinsofblue，andpearlstomatchwhitefingers。
’Oh，youcraftyMasterRidd!’saidLorna，lookingupatme，andblushingnowafarbrighterblushthanwhenshespokeofCharlie；’Ithoughtthatyouweremuchtoosimpleevertodothissortofthing。Nowonderyoucancatchthefish，aswhenfirstIsawyou。’
’HaveIcaughtyou，littlefish？Ormustallmylifebespentinhopelessanglingforyou？’
’Neitheronenortheother，John!Youhavenotcaughtmeyetaltogether，thoughIlikeyoudearlyJohn；andifyouwillonlykeepaway，Ishalllikeyoumoreandmore。Asforhopelessangling，John——thatallothersshallhaveuntilItellyouotherwise。’
Withthelargetearsinhereyes——tearswhichseemedtometorisepartlyfromherwanttolovemewiththepowerofmylove——sheputherpurebrightlips，halfsmiling，halfpronetoreplytotears，againstmyforeheadlinedwithtrouble，doubt，andeagerlonging。
Andthenshedrewmyringfromoffthatsnowytwigherfinger，andhelditouttome；andthen，seeinghowmyfacewasfalling，thriceshetoucheditwithherlips，andsweetlygaveitbacktome。’John，Idarenottakeitnow；elseIshouldbecheatingyou。Iwilltrytoloveyoudearly，evenasyoudeserveandwish。Keepitformejusttillthen。SomethingtellsmeIshallearnitinaverylittletime。Perhapsyouwillbesorrythen，sorrywhenitisalltoolate，tobelovedbysuchasIam。’
WhatcouldIdoathermournfultone，butkissathousandtimesthehandwhichsheputuptowarnme，andvowthatIwouldratherdiewithoneassuranceofherlove，thanwithoutitliveforeverwithallbesidethattheworldcouldgive？Uponthisshelookedsolovely，withherdarkeyelashestrembling，andhersofteyesfulloflight，andthecolourofclearsunrisemountingonhercheeksandbrow，thatIwasforcedtoturnaway，beingovercomewithbeauty。
’Dearestdarling，loveofmylife，’Iwhisperedthroughhercloudsofhair；’howlongmustIwaittoknow，howlongmustIlingerdoubtingwhetheryoucaneverstoopfromyourbirthandwondrousbeautytoapoor，coarsehindlikeme，anignorantunletteredyeoman——’
’Iwillnothaveyourevileyourself，’saidLorna，verytenderly——justasIhadmeanttomakeher。’Youarenotrudeandunlettered，John。YouknowagreatdealmorethanIdo；youhavelearnedbothGreekandLatin，asyoutoldmelongago，andyouhavebeenattheverybestschoolintheWestofEngland。Noneofusbutmygrandfather，andtheCounsellorwhoisagreatscholar，cancomparewithyouinthis。AndthoughI
havelaughedatyourmannerofspeech，Ionlylaughedinfun，John；Inevermeanttovexyoubyit，norknewthatithaddoneso。’
’Naughtyousaycanvexme，dear，’Ianswered，assheleanedtowardsmeinhergeneroussorrow；’unlessyousay“Begone，JohnRidd；Iloveanothermorethanyou。“’
’ThenIshallnevervexyou，John。Never，Imean，bysayingthat。Now，John，ifyouplease，bequiet——’
ForIwascarriedawaysomuchbyhearinghercallingme’John’sooften，andthemusicofhervoice，andthewayshebenttowardme，andtheshadowofsoftweepinginthesunlightofhereyes，thatsomeofmygreathandwascreepinginamannernottobeimagined，andfarlessexplained，towardthelithesome，wholesomecurvingunderneathhermantle-fold，andoutofsightandharm，asIthought；notbeingherfrontwaist。However，I
wasdashedwiththat，andpretendednottomeanit；
onlytoplucksomelady-fern，whoseelegancedidmenogood。
’Now，John，’saidLorna，beingsoquickthatnotevenalovercouldcheather，andobservingmyconfusionmoreintentlythansheneedhavedone。’MasterJohnRidd，itishightimeforyoutogohometoyourmother。I
loveyourmotherverymuchfromwhatyouhavetoldmeabouther，andIwillnothavehercheated。’
’Ifyoutrulylovemymother，’saidI，verycraftily’theonlywaytoshowitisbytrulylovingme。’
Uponthatshelaughedatmeinthesweetestmanner，andwithsuchprovokingways，andsuchcome-and-goofglances，andbeginningofquickblushes，whichshetriedtolaughaway，thatIknew，aswellasifsheherselfhadtoldme，bysomeknowledgevoidofreasoning，andthesurerforit，Iknewquitewell，whileallmyheartwasburninghotwithinme，andmineeyeswereshyofhers，andhereyeswereshyofmine；
forcertainandforeverthisIknew——asinaglory——thatLornaDoonehadnowbegunandwouldgoontoloveme。
AlthoughIwasunderinterdictfortwomonthsfrommydarling——’oneforyoursake，oneformine，’shehadwhispered，withherheadwithdrawn，yetnotsoveryfarfromme——lighterheartwasnotonExmoorthanIboreforhalfthetime，andevenforthreequarters。Forshewassafe；Iknewthatdailybyamodeofsignalswell-contrivedbetweenusnow，onthestrengthofourexperience。’Ihavenothingnowtofear，John，’shehadsaidtome，asweparted；’itistruethatIamspiedandwatched，butGwennyistookeenforthem。
WhileIhavemygrandfathertopreventallviolence；
andlittleGwennytokeepwatchonthosewhotrytowatchme；andyou，aboveallothers，John，readyatamoment，iftheworstcomestotheworst——thisneglectedLornaDoonewasneverinsuchcasebefore。Thereforedonotsqueezemyhand，John；Iamsafewithoutit，andyoudonotknowyourstrength。’
Ah，Iknewmystrengthrightwell。Hillandvalleyscarcelyseemedtobestepandlandingforme；fiercestcattleIwouldplaywith，makingthemgobackward，andafraidofhurtingthem，likeJohnFrywithhisterrier；
evenrootedtreesseemedtomebutassticksIcouldsmitedown，exceptformyloveofeverything。Theloveofallthingswasuponme，andasoftnesstothemall，andasenseofhavingsomethingevensuchastheyhad。
Thenthegoldenharvestcame，wavingonthebroadhill-side，andnestlinginthequietnooksscoopedfromoutthefringeofwood。Awealthofharvestsuchasnevergladdenedallourcountry-sidesincemyfatherceasedtoreap，andhissicklehungtorust。TherehadnotbeenamanonExmoorfittoworkthatreaping-hooksincethetimeitsownerfell，intheprimeoflifeandstrength，beforeasternerreaper。
ButnowItookitfromthewall，wheremotherproudlystoredit，whileshewatchedme，hardlyknowingwhethersheshouldsmileorcry。
Alltheparishwasassembledinouruppercourtyard；
forweweretoopentheharvestthatyear，ashadbeensettledwithFarmerNicholas，andwithJasperKebby，whoheldthethirdorlittlefarm。Westartedinproperorder，therefore，asourpracticeis：first，theparsonJosiahBowden，wearinghisgownandcassock，withtheparishBibleinhishand，andasicklestrappedbehindhim。Ashestrodealongwellandstoutly，beingamanofsubstance，allourfamilycamenext，Ileadingmotherwithonehand，intheotherbearingmyfather’shook，andwithaloafofourownbreadandakegofcideruponmyback。BehindusAnnieandLizziewalked，wearingwreathsofcorn-flowers，setoutveryprettily，suchasmotherwouldhavewornifshehadbeenafarmer’swife，insteadofafarmer’swidow。Beingasshewas，shehadnoadornment，exceptthatherwidow’shoodwasoff，andherhairallowedtoflow，asifshehadbeenamaiden；andveryrichbrighthairitwas，inspiteofallhertroubles。