Asitis，IshallkeepitforMasterFaggus，andaddinterestforkeeping。’
’Ohno，John；ohno，John，’shebeggedmeearnestly，beingsoberedinamoment。’Yourhandissoterriblyheavy，John；andheneverwouldforgiveyou；althoughheissogood-hearted，hecannotputupwithaninsult。
Promiseme，dearJohn，thatyouwillnotstrikehim；
andIwillpromiseyoufaithfullytokeepyoursecret，evenfrommother，andevenfromCousinTomhimself。’
’AndfromLizzie；mostofall，fromLizzie，’Iansweredveryeagerly，knowingtoowellwhichofmyrelationswouldbehardestwithme。
’OfcoursefromlittleLizzie，’saidAnnie，withsomecontempt；’ayoungthinglikehercannotbekepttoolong，inmyopinion，fromtheknowledgeofsuchsubjects。Andbesides，IshouldbeverysorryifLizziehadtherighttoknowyoursecrets，asIhave，dearestJohn。Notasoulshallbethewiserforyourhavingtrustedme，John；althoughIshallbeverywretchedwhenyouarelateawayatnight，amongthosedreadfulpeople。’
’Well，’Ireplied，’itisnousecryingoverspiltmilkAnnie。Youhavemysecret，andIhaveyours；andI
scarcelyknowwhichofthetwoislikelytohavetheworsttimeofit，whenitcomestomother’sears。I
couldputupwithperpetualscoldingbutnotwithmother’ssadsilence。’
’ThatisexactlyhowIfeel，John。’andasAnniesaiditshebrightenedup，andhersofteyesshoneuponme；
’butnowIshallbemuchhappier，dear；becauseIshalltrytohelpyou。Nodoubttheyoungladydeservesit，John。Sheisnotafterthefarm，Ihope？’
’She!’Iexclaimed；andthatwasenough，therewassomuchscorninmyvoiceandface。
’Then，Iamsure，Iamveryglad，’Anniealwaysmadethebestofthings；’forIdobelievethatSallySnowehastakenafancytoourdairy-place，andthepatternofourcream-pans；andsheaskedsomuchaboutourmeadows，andthecolourofthemilk——’
’Then，afterall，youwereright，dearAnnie；itisthegroundshedotesupon。’
’Andthethingsthatwalkuponit，’sheansweredmewithanotherkiss；’Sallyhastakenawonderfulfancytoourbestcow，“Nipple-pins。“Butshenevershallhavehernow；whataconsolation!’
Weenteredthehousequitegentlythus，andfoundFarmerNicholasSnoweasleep，littledreaminghowhisplanshadbeenoversetbetweenus。AndthenAnniesaidtomeveryslyly，betweenasmileandablush，——
’Don’tyouwishLornaDoonewashere，John，intheparlouralongwithmother；insteadofthosetwofashionablemilkmaids，asUncleBenwillcallthem，andpoorstupidMistressKebby？’
’ThatindeedIdo，Annie。Imustkissyouforonlythinkingofit。Dearme，itseemsasifyouhadknownallaboutusforatwelvemonth。’
’Shelovesyou，withallherheart，John。Nodoubtaboutthatofcourse。’AndAnnielookedupatme，asmuchastosayshewouldliketoknowwhocouldhelpit。
’That’stheverythingshewon’tdo，’saidI，knowingthatAnniewouldlovemeallthemoreforit，’sheisonlybeginningtolikeme，Annie；andasforloving，sheissoyoungthatsheonlyloveshergrandfather。
ButIhopeshewillcometoitby-and-by。’
’Ofcourseshemust，’repliedmysister，’itwillbeimpossibleforhertohelpit。’
’Ahwell!Idon’tknow，’forIwantedmoreassuranceofit。’Maidensaresuchwondrousthings!’’
’Notabitofit，’saidAnnie，castingherbrighteyesdownwards：’loveisassimpleasmilking，whenpeopleknowhowtodoit。Butyoumustnotletheralonetoolong；thatismyadvicetoyou。Whatasimpletonyoumusthavebeennottotellmelongago。IwouldhavemadeLornawildaboutyou，longbeforethistime，Johnny。Butnowyougointotheparlour，dear，whileI
doyourcollop。FaithSnoweisnotcome，butPollyandSally。Sallyhasmadeuphermindtoconqueryouthisveryblessedevening，John。Onlylookwhatathingofascarfshehason；Ishouldbequiteashamedtowearit。Butyouwon’tstrikepoorTom，willyou？’
’NotI，mydarling，foryoursweetsake。’
AndsodearAnnie，havinggrownquitebrave，gavemealittlepushintotheparlour，whereIwasquiteabashedtoenterafterallIhadheardaboutSally。AndImadeupmymindtoexamineherwell，andtryalittlecourtingwithher，ifsheshouldleadmeon，thatI
mightbeinpracticeforLorna。ButwhenIperceivedhowgrandlyandrichlyboththeyoungdamselswereapparelled；andhow，intheircurtseystome，theyretreated，asifIweremakinguptothem，inawaytheyhadlearnedfromExeter；andhowtheybegantotalkoftheCourt，asiftheyhadbeentherealltheirlives，andthelatestmodeoftheDuchessofthis，andtheprofileoftheCountessofthat，andthelastgoodsayingofmyLordsomething；insteadofbutter，andcream，andeggs，andthingswhichtheyunderstood；I
knewtheremustbesomebodyintheroombesidesJasperKebbytotalkat。
Andsotherewas；forbehindthecurtaindrawnacrossthewindow-seatnolessamanthanUncleBenwassittinghalfasleepandweary；andbyhissidealittlegirlveryquietandverywatchful。MymotherledmetoUncleBen，andhetookmyhandwithoutrising，mutteringsomethingnotover-polite，aboutmybeingbiggerthanever。Iaskedhimheartilyhowhewas，andhesaid，’Wellenough，forthatmatter；butnonethebetterforthenoiseyougreatclodshavebeenmaking。’
’Iamsorryifwehavedisturbedyou，sir，’Iansweredverycivilly；’butIknewnotthatyouwerehereeven；
andyoumustallowforharvesttime。’
’Soitseems，’hereplied；’andallowagreatdeal，includingwasteanddrunkenness。Nowifyoucanseesosmallathing，afteremptyingflagonsmuchlarger
thisismygranddaughter，andmyheiress’——hereheglancedatmother——’myheiress，littleRuthHuckaback。’
’Iamverygladtoseeyou，Ruth，’Ianswered，offeringhermyhand，whichsheseemedafraidtotake，’welcometoPlover’sBarrows，mygoodcousinRuth。’
However，mygoodcousinRuthonlyarose，andmademeacurtsey，andliftedhergreatbrowneyesatme，moreinfear，asIthought，thankinship。Andifeveranyonelookedunliketheheiresstogreatproperty，itwasthelittlegirlbeforeme。
’Comeouttothekitchen，dear，andletmechuckyoutotheceiling，’Isaid，justtoencourageher；’Ialwaysdoittolittlegirls；andthentheycanseethehamsandbacon。’ButUncleReubenburstoutlaughing；andRuthturnedawaywithadeeprichcolour。
’Doyouknowhowoldsheis，younumskull？’saidUncleBen，inhisdryestdrawl；’shewasseventeenlastJuly，sir。’
’OnthefirstofJuly，grandfather，’Ruthwhispered，withherbackstilltome；’butmanypeoplewillnotbelieveit。’
Heremothercameuptomyrescue，asshealwayslovedtodo；andshesaid，’IfmysonmaynotdanceMissRuth，atanyratehemaydancewithher。Wehaveonlybeenwaitingforyou，dearJohn，tohavealittleharvestdance，withthekitchendoorthrownopen。YoutakeRuth；UncleBentakeSally；MasterDebbypairoffwithPolly；andneighbourNicholaswillbegoodenough，ifIcanawakehim，tostandupwithfairMistressKebby。Lizziewillplayusthevirginal。Won’tyou，Lizziedear？’
’Butwhoistodancewithyou，madam？’UncleBenasked，verypolitely。’Ithinkyoumustrearrangeyourfigure。Ihavenotdancedforascoreofyears；andI
willnotdancenow，whilethemistressandtheowneroftheharvestsitsasideneglected。’
’Nay，MasterHuckaback，’criedSallySnowe，withasaucytossofherhair；’MistressRiddistookindagreatdeal，inhandingyouovertome。Youtakeher；
andIwillfetchAnnietobemypartnerthisevening。
Ilikedancingverymuchbetterwithgirls，fortheyneversqueezeandrumpleone。Oh，itissomuchnicer!’
’Havenofearforme，mydears，’ourmotheransweredsmiling：’ParsonBowdenpromisedtocomebackagain；I
expecthimeveryminute；andheintendstoleadmeoff，andtobringapartnerforAnnietoo，averyprettyyounggentleman。Nowbegin；andIwilljoinyou。’
Therewasnodisobeyingher，withoutrudeness；andindeedthegirls’feetwerealreadyjigging；andLizziegivingherselfwonderfulairswitharolloflearnedmusic；andevenwhileAnniewasdoingmycollop，herprettyroundinstepwasarchingitself，asIcouldseefromtheparlour-door。SoItooklittleRuth，andI
spunheraround，asthesoundofthemusiccamelivelyandringing；andafteruscamealltherestwithmuchlaughter，beggingmenottojumpoverher；andanonmygravepartnerbegantosmilesweetly，andlookupatmewiththebrightestofeyes，anddropmetheprettiestcurtseys；tillIthoughtwhatagreatstupeImusthavebeentodreamofputtingherinthecheese-rack。ButonethingIcouldnotatallunderstand；whymother，whousedtodoallinherpowertothrowmeacrossSallySnowe，shouldnowdotheveryopposite；forshewouldnotallowmeonemomentwithSally，noteventocrossinthedance，orwhisper，orgoanywherenearacornerwhichasIsaid，Iintendedtodo，justbywayofpractice，whileshekeptme，alltheevening，ascloseaspossiblewithRuthHuckaback，andcameupandpraisedmesotoRuth，timesandagain，thatIdeclareIwasquiteashamed。AlthoughofcourseIknewthatI
deserveditall，butIcouldnotwellsaythat。
ThenAnniecamesailingdownthedance，withherbeautifulhairflowingroundher；thelightestfigureinalltheroom，andthesweetest，andtheloveliest。
Shewasblushing，withherfaircheeksredbeneathherdearblueeyes，asshemetmyglanceofsurpriseandgriefatthepartnershewasleaningon。ItwasSquireMarwooddeWhichehalse。IwouldsoonerhaveseenherwithTomFaggus，asindeedIhadexpected，whenIheardofParsonBowden。Andtomeitseemedthatshehadnorighttobedancingsowithanyother；andtothiseffectIcontrivedtowhisper；butsheonlysaid，’Seetoyourself，John。No，butletusbothenjoyourselves。YouarenotdancingwithLorna，John。Butyouseemuncommonlyhappy。’
’Tush，’Isaid；’couldIflipaboutso，ifIhadmylovewithme？’
Wekeptupthedanceverylatethatnight，motherbeinginsuchwonderfulspirits，thatshewouldnothearofourgoingtobed：
whilesheglancedfromyoungSquireMarwood，verydeepinhistalkwithourAnnie，tomeandRuthHuckabackwhowerebeginningtobeverypleasantcompany。Alas，poormother，soproudasshewas，howlittleshedreamedthathergoodschemesalreadywerehopelesslygoingawry!
Beingforcedtobeupbeforedaylightnextday，inordertobeginrightearly，Iwouldnotgotomybedroomthatnightforfearofdisturbingmymother，butdeterminedtosleepinthetallatawhile，thatplacebeingcool，andairy，andrefreshingwiththesmellofsweethay。Moreover，aftermydwellingintown，whereIhadfeltlikeahorseonalime-kiln，I
couldnotforalengthoftimehaveenoughofcountrylife。Themooingofacalfwasmusic，andthechuckleofafowlwaswit，andthesnoreofthehorseswasnewstome。
’Wulthavetheeownwai，Ireckon，’saidBetty，beingcrosswithsleepiness，forshehadwashedupeverything；’slapeinhog-pound，iftheelaikes，Jan。’
LettingherhavethelastwordofitasisthedueofwomenIstoodinthecourt，andwonderedawhileatthegloryoftheharvestmoon，andtheyellowworlditshoneupon。ThenIsaw，assureaseverIwasstandingthereintheshadowofthestable，Isawashortwidefigureglideacrossthefootofthecourtyard，betweenmeandthesix-barredgate。Insteadofrunningafterit，asIshouldhavedone，Ibegantoconsiderwhoitcouldbe，andwhatonearthwasdoingthere，whenallourpeoplewereinbed，andthereapersgonehome，ortothelinhaycloseagainstthewheatfield。
Havingmadeupmymindatlast，thatitcouldbenoneofourpeople——thoughnotadogwasbarking——andalsothatitmusthavebeeneitheragirlorawoman，Irandownwithallspeedtolearnwhatmightbethemeaningofit。ButIcametoolatetolearn，throughmyownhesitation，forthiswasthelowerendofthecourtyard，nottheapproachfromtheparishhighway，buttheendofthesledd-way，acrossthefieldswherethebrookgoesdowntotheLynnstream，andwhereSquireFaggushadsavedtheolddrake。Andofcoursethedrychannelofthebrook，beingscarcelyanywaternow，affordedplentyofplacetohide，leadingalsotoalittlecoppice，beyondourcabbage-garden，andsofurtherontotheparishhighway。