Bythistime，theharvestbeingdone，andthethatchingofthericksmadesureagainstsouth-westerntempests，andallthereapersbeinggone，withgoodmoneyandthankfulness，IbegantoburninspiritforthesightofLorna。IhadbeggedmysisterAnnietoletSallySnoweknow，onceforall，thatitwasnotinmypowertohaveanythingmoretodowithher。OfcourseourAnniewasnottogrieveSally，neithertoletitappearforamomentthatIsuspectedherkindviewsuponme，andherstrongregardforourdairy：onlyIthoughtitrightuponourpartnottowasteSally’stimeanylonger，beingahandsomewenchasshewas，andmanyyoungfellowsgladtomarryher。
AndAnniedidthisuncommonlywell，assheherselftoldmeafterwards，havingtakenSallyinthesweetestmannerintoherpureconfidence，andopenedhalfherbosomtoher，aboutmyverysadloveaffair。NotthatsheletSallyknow，ofcourse，whoitwas，orwhatitwas；onlythatshemadeherunderstand，withouthintingatanydesireofit，thattherewasnochancenowofhavingme。Sallychangedcolouralittleatthis，andthenwentonaboutaredcowwhichhadpassedsevenneedlesatmilkingtime。
Inasmuchastherearetwosortsofmonthwellrecognisedbythecalendar，towitthelunarandthesolar，Imadeboldtoregardbothmymonths，intheabsenceofanyprovision，asintendedtobestrictlylunar。ThereforeupontheverydaywhentheeightweekswereexpiringforthIwentinsearchofLorna，takingthepearlringhopefully，andallthenew-laideggsIcouldfind，andadozenandahalfofsmalltroutfromourbrook。Andthepleasureitgavemetocatchthosetrout，thinkingaseveryonecameforthanddanceduponthegrass，howmuchshewouldenjoyhim，ismorethanIcannowdescribe，althoughIwellrememberit。Anditstruckmethatafteracceptingmyring，andsayinghowmuchshelovedme，itwaspossiblethatmyQueenmightinvitemeeventostayandsupwithher：
andsoIarrangedwithdearAnniebeforehand，whowasnowthegreatestcomforttome，toaccountformyabsenceifIshouldbelate。
Butalas，Iwasutterlydisappointed；foralthoughI
waitedandwaitedforhours，withanequalamountbothofpatienceandperil，noLornaeverappearedatall，noreventhefaintestsignofher。Andanotherthingoccurredaswell，whichvexedmemorethanitneedhavedone，forsosmallamatter。Andthiswasthatmylittleofferingofthetroutandthenew-laideggswascarriedoffinthecoolestmannerbythatvileCarverDoone。Forthinkingtokeepthemthefresherandnicer，awayfromsomuchhandling，Ilaidtheminalittlebedofreedsbythesideofthewater，andplacedsomedog-leavesoverthem。
AndwhenIhadquiteforgottenaboutthem，andwaswatchingfrommyhiding-placebeneaththewillow-treeforIlikednottoenterLorna’sbower，withoutherpermission；exceptjusttopeepthatshewasnotthere，andwhileIwasturningtheringinmypocket，havingjustseenthenewmoon，I
becameawareofagreatmancomingeisurelydownthevalley。
Hehadabroad-brimmedhat，andaleatherjerkin，andheavyjack-bootstohismiddlethigh，andwhatwasworstofallforme，onhisshoulderheborealongcarbine。Havingnothingtomeethimwithalbutmystaff，anddesiringtoavoiddisturbance，Iretiredpromptlyintothechasm，keepingthetreebetwixtusthathemightnotdescryme，andwatchingfrombehindthejutofarock，wherenowI
hadscrapedmyselfaneatlittleholeforthepurpose。
Presentlythegreatmanreappeared，beingnowwithinfiftyyardsofme，andthelightstillgoodenough，ashedrewnearerformetodescryhisfeatures：andthoughIamnotajudgeofmen’sfaces，therewassomethinginhiswhichturnedmecold，asthoughwithakindofhorror。Notthatitwasanuglyface；nay，ratheritseemedahandsomeone，sofarasmereformandlinemightgo，fullofstrength，andvigour，andwill，andsteadfastresolution。Fromtheshortblackhairabovethebroadforehead，tothelongblackbearddescendingbelowthecurt，boldchin，therewasnotanycurveorglimpseofweaknessorofafterthought。
Nothingplayful，nothingpleasant，nothingwithatrackofsmiles；nothingwhichafriendcouldlike，andlaughathimforhaving。AndyethemighthavebeenagoodmanforIhaveknownverygoodmensofortifiedbytheirownstrangeideasofGod：Isaythathemighthaveseemedagoodman，butforthecoldandcruelhankeringofhissteel-blueeyes。
NowletnoonesupposeforaminutethatIsawallthisinamoment；forIamveryslow，andtakealongtimetodigestthings；onlyIliketosetdown，andhavedonewithit，alltheresultsofmyknowledge，thoughtheybenotmanifold。ButwhatIsaidtomyself，justthen，wasnomorethanthis：’WhatafellowtohaveLorna!’Havingmysenseofrightsooutragedalthough，ofcourse，Iwouldneverallowhertogosofarasthat，Ialmostlongedthathemightthrusthisheadintolookafterme。ForthereIwas，withmyashstaffclubbed，readytohaveathim，andnotillinclinedtodoso；ifonlyhewouldcomewherestrength，notfirearms，mustdecideit。However，hesuspectednothingofmydangerousneighbourhood，butwalkedhisroundlikeasentinel，andturnedatthebrinkofthewater。
Thenashemarchedbackagain，alongthemarginofthestream，heespiedmylittlehoard，coveredupwithdog-leaves。Hesawthattheleaveswereupsidedown，andthisofcoursedrewhisattention。Isawhimstoop，andlaybarethefish，andtheeggssetalittlewayfromthemandinmysimpleheart，Ithoughtthatnowheknewallaboutme。Buttomysurprise，heseemedwell-pleased；andhisharshshortlaughtercametomewithoutecho，——
’Ha，ha!Charlieboy!FishermanCharlie，haveIcaughttheesettingbaitforLorna？Now，Iunderstandthyfishings，andtherobbingofCounsellor’shenroost。
MayIneverhavegoodroasting，ifIhaveitnotto-nightandroastthee，Charlie，afterwards!’
Withthishecalmlypackedupmyfish，andallthebestofdearAnnie’seggs；andwentawaychucklingsteadfastly，tohishome，ifonemaycallitso。ButI
wassothoroughlygrievedandmortifiedbythismostimpudentrobbery，thatIstartedforthfrommyrockyscreenwiththeintentionofpursuinghim，untilmybettersensearrestedme，barelyintimetoescapehiseyes。ForI
saidtomyself，thatevensupposingIcouldcontendunarmedwithhim，itwouldbethegreatestfollyintheworldtohavemysecretaccessknown，andperhapsafatalbarrierplacedbetweenLornaandmyself，andI
knewnotwhattroublebroughtuponher，allforthesakeofafeweggsandfishes。Itwasbettertobearthistriflingloss，howeverignominiousandgoadingtothespirit，thantoriskmyloveandLorna’swelfare，andperhapsbeshotintothebargain。AndIthinkthatallwillagreewithme，thatIactedforthewisest，inwithdrawingtomyshelter，thoughdeprivedofeggsandfishes。
HavingwaitedasIsaiduntiltherewasnochancewhateverofmyloveappearing，Ihastenedhomewardverysadly；andthewindofearlyautumnmoanedacrossthemoorland。Allthebeautyoftheharvest，allthegaietywasgone，andtheearlyfallofduskwaslikeaweightuponme。Nevertheless，Iwenteveryeveningthenceforwardforafortnight；hoping，everytimeinvaintofindmyhopeandcomfort。Andmeanwhile，whatperplexedmemostwasthatthesignalswerereplaced，inorderasagreedupon，sothatLornacouldscarcelyberestrainedbyanyrigour。
OnetimeIhadanarrowchanceofbeingshotandsettledwith；anditbefellmethus。Iwaswaitingverycarelessly，beingnowalittledesperate，attheentrancetotheglen，insteadofwatchingthroughmysight-hole，astheproperpracticewas。Suddenlyaballwentbyme，withawhizzandwhistle，passingthroughmyhatandsweepingitawayallfoldedup。Mysofthatflutteredfardownthestream，beforeIhadtimetogoafterit，andwiththehelpofbothwindandwater，wasfiftyyardsgoneinamoment。AtthisIhadjustenoughmindlefttoshrinkbackverysuddenly，andlurkverystillandclosely；forIknewwhatanarrowescapeithadbeen，asIheardthebullet，hardsetbythepowder，singmournfullydownthechasm，likeadronebanishedoutofthehive。AndasIpeeredthroughmylittlecranny，Isawawreathofsmokestillfloatingwherethethicknesswasofthewithy-bed；andpresentlyCarverDoonecameforth，havingstoppedtoreloadhispieceperhaps，andranveryswiftlytotheentrancetoseewhathehadshot。
SoretroublehadItokeepclosequarters，fromtheslipperinessofthestonebeneathmewiththewaterslidingoverit。Myfoecamequitetothevergeofthefall，wheretheriverbegantocombover；andtherehestoppedforaminuteortwo，ontheutmostedgeofdryland，upontheveryspotindeedwhereIhadfallensenselesswhenIclombitinmyboyhood。Icouldhearhimbreathinghardandgrunting，asindoubtanddiscontent，forhestoodwithinayardofme，andI
keptmyrightfistreadyforhim，ifheshoulddiscoverme。Thenatthefootofthewaterslide，myblackhatsuddenlyappeared，tossinginwhitefoam，andflutteringlikearavenwounded。NowIhaddoubtedwhichhattotake，whenIlefthomethatday；tillI
thoughtthattheblackbecamemebest，andmightseemkindertoLorna。
’HaveIkilledthee，oldbird，atlast？’myenemycriedintriumph；’’tisthethirdtimeIhaveshotatthee，andthouwastbeginningtomockme。Nomoreofthycursedcroakingnow，towakemeinthemorning。Ha，ha!therearenotmanywhogetthreechancesfromCarverDoone；andnoneevergobeyondit。’
Ilaughedwithinmyselfatthis，ashestrodeawayinhistriumph；forwasnotthishisthirdchanceofme，andhenowhitthewiser？AndthenIthoughtthatperhapsthechancemightsomedaybeontheotherside。
Fortotellthetruth，Iwasheartilytiredoflurkingandplayingbo-peepsolong；towhichnothingcouldhavereconciledme，exceptmyfearforLorna。AndhereIsawwasamanofstrengthfitformetoencounter，suchasIhadnevermet，butwouldbegladtomeetwith；havingfoundnomanoflatewhoneedednotmymercyatwrestling，oratsingle-stick。Andgrowingmoreandmoreuneasy，asIfoundnoLorna，IwouldhavetriedtoforcetheDooneGlenfromtheupperend，andtakemychanceofgettingback，butforAnnieandherprayers。
NowthatsamenightIthinkitwas，oratanyratethenextone，thatInoticedBettyMuxworthygoingonmoststrangely。Shemadethequeerestsignstome，whennobodywaslooking，andlaidherfingersonherlips，andpointedoverhershoulder。ButItooklittleheedofher，beinginakindofdudgeon，andoppressedwithevilluck；believingtoothatallshewantedwastohavesomelittlegrumbleaboutsomepettygrievance。
Butpresentlyshepokedmewiththeheelofafire-bundle，andpassingclosetomyearwhispered，sothatnoneelsecouldhearher，’LarnaDoo-un。’
BythesewordsIwassostartled，thatIturnedroundandstaredather；butshepretendednottoknowit，andbeganwithallhermighttoscouranemptycrockwithabesom。
’Oh，Betty，letmehelpyou!Thatworkismuchtoohardforyou，’Icriedwithasuddenchivalry，whichonlywonrudeanswer。
’Zeedmeadooingofthic，everynaightlasttenyear，Jan，wioutvindin’outhowharditwor。Butifzobeetheewantstohelp，carrpeg’sbucketforme。Massy，ifIain’tforgottentofadethepegstillnow。’
Favouringmewithanotherwink，towhichInowpaidthekeenestheed，Bettywentandfetchedthelanthornfromthehookinsidethedoor。Thenwhenshehadkindledit，notallowingmeanytimetoaskwhatshewasafter，shewentoutside，andpointedtothegreatbockofwash，andriddlings，andbrownhulkageforwegroundourowncornalways，andthoughsheknewthatBillDaddsandJemSlocombehadfullworktocarryitonapolewithanothertohelptoslingit，shesaidtomeasquietlyasamaidenmightaskonetocarryaglove，’JanRidd，carrthicthingforme。’
SoIcarrieditforher，withoutanywords；wonderingwhatshewasuptonext，andwhethershehadeverheardofbeingtoohardonthewillinghorse。Andwhenwecametohog-pound，sheturneduponmesuddenly，withthelanthornshewasbearing，andsawthatIhadthebockbyonehandveryeasily。
’JanRidd，’shesaid，’therebenoothermaninEnglandcuda’doodit。NowtheeshalthaveLarna。’
WhileIwaswonderinghowmychanceofhavingLornacoulddependuponmypowertocarrypig’swash，andhowBettycouldhaveanyvoiceinthematterwhichseemedtodependuponherdecision，andinshort，whileIwasallabroadastoherknowledgeandeverything，thepigs，whohadbeenfastasleepanddreamingintheiremptiness，awokewithoneaccordatthegoodnessofthesmellaroundthem。Theyhadresignedthemselves，asevenpigsdo，toakindoffast，hopingtobreaktheirfastmoresweetlyonthemorrowmorning。Butnowtheytumbledoutallheadlong，pigsbelowandpigsabove，pigspoint-blankandpigsacross，pigscourantandpigsrampant，butallalikepreparedtoeat，andallingoodcadencesqueaking。