Therewas，however，nopossibilityofdepressingmeatsuchatime。TobelovedbyLorna，thesweet，thepure，theplayfulone，thefairestcreatureonGod’searthandthemostenchanting，theladyofhighbirthandmind；thatI，amereclumsy，blunderingyeoman，withoutwit，orwealth，orlineage，shouldhavewonthatlovinghearttobemyownforever，wasathoughtnofearscouldlessen，andnochancecouldstealfromme。
Thereforeatherownentreatytakingaveryquickadieu，andbyherowninvitationanexceedingkindone，Ihurriedhomewithdeepexulting，yetsomesadmisgivings，forLornahadmademepromisenowtotellmymothereverything；asindeedIalwaysmeanttodo，whenmysuitshouldbegonetoofartostop。Iknew，ofcourse，thatmydearmotherwouldbegreatlymovedandvexed，theheirshipofGlenDoonenotbeingaverydesirabledower，butinspiteofthat，andalldisappointmentastolittleRuthHuckaback，feelingmymother’stendernessanddeepaffectiontome，andforgivingnature，IdoubtednotthatbeforeverylongshewouldviewthematterasIdid。Moreover，IfeltthatifonceIcouldgetheronlytolookatLorna，shewouldsoloveandgloryinher，thatIshouldobtainallpraiseandthanks，perchancewithoutdeservingthem。
Unluckilyformydesigns，whoshouldbesittingdownatbreakfastwithmymotherandtherestbutSquireFaggus，aseverybodynowbegantoentitlehim。I
noticedsomethingoddabouthim，somethinguncomfortableinhismanner，andalackofthateaseandhumourwhichhadbeenwonttodistinguishhim。Hetookhisbreakfastasitcame，withoutasinglejokeaboutit，orpreferenceofthistothat；butwithslysoftlooksatAnnie，whoseemedunabletositquiet，ortolookatanyonesteadfastly。Ifearedinmyheartwhatwascomingon，andfelttrulysorryforpoormother。Afterbreakfastitbecamemydutytoseetotheploughingofabarley-stubblereadyforthesowingofaFrenchgrass，andIaskedTomFaggustocomewithme，butherefused，andIknewthereason。Beingresolvedtoallowhimfairfieldtohimself，thoughwithgreatdispleasurethatamanofsuchillegalreputeshouldmarryintoourfamily，whichhadalwaysbeencountedsohonest，Icarriedmydinneruponmyback，andspentthewholedaywiththefurrows。
WhenIreturned，SquireFagguswasgone；whichappearedtomebutasorrysign，inasmuchasifmotherhadtakenkindlytohimandhisintentions，shewouldsurelyhavemadehimremainawhiletocelebratetheoccasion。Andpresentlynodoubtwasleft：forLizziecamerunningtomeetme，atthebottomofthewoodrick，andcried，——
’Oh，John，thereissuchabusiness。Motherisinsuchastateofmind，andAnniecryinghereyesout。Whatdoyouthink？Youwouldneverguess，thoughIhavesuspectedit，eversolong。’
’Noneedformetoguess，’Ireplied，asthoughwithsomeindifference，becauseofherself-importantair；
’Iknewallaboutitlongago。Youhavenotbeencryingmuch，Isee。Ishouldlikeyoubetterifyouhad。’
’WhyshouldIcry？IlikeTomFaggus。HeistheonlyoneIeverseewiththespiritofaman。’
Thiswasacut，ofcourse，atme。Mr。FaggushadwonthegoodwillofLizziebyhishatredoftheDoones，andvowsthatifhecouldgetadozenmenofanycouragetojoinhim，hewouldpulltheirstrongholdabouttheirearswithoutanymoreado。Thismaliceofhisseemedstrangetome，ashehadneversufferedattheirhands，sofaratleastasIknew；wasittobeattributedtohisjealousyofoutlawswhoexcelledhiminhisbusiness？Notbeinggoodatrepartee，ImadenoanswertoLizzie，havingfoundthiscoursemoreirksometoherthantheverybestinvective：andsoweenteredthehousetogether；andmothersentatonceforme，whileI
wastryingtoconsolemydarlingsisterAnnie。
’Oh，John!speakonegoodwordforme，’shecriedwithbothhandslaidinmine，andhertearfuleyeslookingupatme。
’Notone，mypet，butahundred，’Ianswered，kindlyembracingher：’havenofear，littlesister：Iamgoingtomakeyourcasesobright，bycomparison，Imean，thatmotherwillsendforyouinfiveminutes，andcallyouherbest，hermostdutifulchild，andpraiseCousinTomtotheskies，andsendamanonhorsebackafterhim；andthenyouwillhaveahardertasktointercedeforme，mydear。’
’Oh，John，dearJohn，youwon’ttellheraboutLorna——oh，notto-day，dear。’
’Yes，to-day，andatonce，Annie。Iwanttohaveitover，andbedonewithit。’
’Oh，butthinkofher，dear。Iamsureshecouldnotbearit，afterthisgreatshockalready。’
’Shewillbearitallthebetter，’saidI；’theonewilldrivetheotherout。Iknowexactlywhatmotheris。Shewillbedesperatelysavagefirstwithyou，andthenwithme，andthenforaverylittlewhilewithbothofustogether；andthenshewillputoneagainsttheotherinhermindImeanandconsiderwhichwasmosttoblame；andindoingthatshewillbecompelledtofindthebestineither’scase，thatitmaybeattheother；andsoasthepleascomebeforehermind，theywillgainuponthecharges，bothofusbeingherchildren，youknow：andbeforeverylongparticularlyifwebothkeepoutofthewayshewillbegintothinkthatafterallshehasbeenalittletoohasty，andthenshewillrememberhowgoodwehavealwaysbeentoher；andhowlikeourfather。Uponthat，shewillthinkofherownlove-time，andsighagoodbit，andcryalittle，andthensmile，andsendforbothofus，andbegourpardon，andcallushertwodarlings。’
’Now，John，howonearthcanyouknowallthat？’
exclaimedmysister，wipinghereyes，andgazingatmewithasoftbrightsmile。’Whoonearthcanhavetoldyou，John？Peopletocallyoustupidindeed!Why，I
feelthatallyousayisquitetrue，becauseyoudescribesoexactlywhatIshoulddomyself；Imean——I
meanifIhadtwochildren，whohadbehavedaswehavedone。Buttellme，darlingJohn，howyoulearnedallthis。’
’Neveryoumind，’Ireplied，withanodofsomeconceit，Ifear：’ImustbeafoolifIdidnotknowwhatmotherisbythistime。’
Nowinasmuchasthethingbefellaccordingtomyprediction，whatneedformetodwelluponit，aftersayinghowitwouldbe？Moreover，IwouldregrettowritedownwhatmothersaidaboutLorna，inherfirstsurpriseandtribulation；notonlybecauseIwasgrievedbythegrossinjusticeofit，andfrightenedmotherwithherownwordsrepeateddeeplyafterher；
butratherbecauseitisnotwell，whenpeoplerepentofhastyspeech，toenteritagainstthem。
Thatissaidtobetheangels’business；andIdoubtiftheycanattendtoitmuch，withoutdoinginjurytothemselves。
However，bytheafternoon，whenthesunbegantogodownuponus，ourmothersatonthegardenbench，withherheadonmygreatotter-skinwaistcoatwhichwaswaterproof，andherrightarmroundourAnnie’swaist，andscarcelyknowingwhichofussheoughttomakethemostof，orwhichdeservedmostpity。Notthatshehadforgivenyettherivalstoherlove——TomFaggus，I
mean，andLorna——butthatshewasbeginningtothinkatattlebetterofthemnow，andavastdealbetterofherownchildren。
Andithelpedhermuchinthisregard，thatshewasnotthinkinghalfsowellasusualofherself，orratherofherownjudgment；foringoodtruthshehadnoself，onlyasitcamehometoher，bynoverydistantroad，butbywayofherchildren。Abettermotherneverlived；andcanI，aftersearchingallthings，addanotherwordtothat？
AndindeedpoorLizziewasnotsoverybad；butbehavedonthewholeverywellforher。Shewasmuchtobepitied，poorthing，andgreatallowancesmadeforher，asbelongingtoawell-grownfamily，andaverycomelyone；andfeelingherownshortcomings。Thismadeherleaptotheotherextreme，andreassertherselftoomuch，endeavouringtoexaltthemindattheexpenseofthebody；becauseshehadtheinvisibleonesofarascanbedecidedinbettersharethanthevisible。Notbutwhatshehadherpoints，andverycomelypointsofbody；lovelyeyestowit，andverybeautifulhandsandfeetalmostasgoodasLorna’s，andaneckaswhiteassnow；butLizziewasnotgiftedwithourgaitandport，andboundinghealth。
Now，whilewesatonthegardenbench，underthegreatash-tree，weleftdearmothertotakeherownway，andtalkatherownpleasure。Childrenalmostalwaysaremorewide-awakethantheirparents。Thefathersandthemotherslaugh；buttheyoungoneshavethebestofthem。AndnowbothAnnieknew，andI，thatwehadgottenthebestofmother；andthereforeweletherlaydownthelaw，asifwehadbeentwodollies。
’DarlingJohn，’mymothersaid，’yourcaseisaveryhardone。Ayoungandveryromanticgirl——GodsendthatIberightinmycharitableviewofher——hasmetanequallysimpleboy，amonggreatdangersanddifficulties，fromwhichmysonhassavedher，attheriskofhislifeateverystep。Ofcourse，shebecameattachedtohim，andlookeduptohimineveryway，asasuperiorbeing’——
’Comenow，mother，’Isaid；’ifyouonlysawLorna，youwouldlookuponmeasthelowestdirt’——
’NodoubtIshould，’mymotheranswered；’andthekingandqueen，andalltheroyalfamily。Well，thispoorangel，havingmadeuphermindtotakecompassionuponmyson，whenhehadsavedherlifesomanytimes，persuadeshimtomarryheroutofpurepity，andthrowhispoormotheroverboard。Andthesaddestpartofitallisthis——’
’Thatmymotherwillnever，never，neverunderstandthetruth，’saidI。
’ThatisallIwish，’sheanswered；’justtogetatthesimpletruthfrommyownperceptionofit。John，youareverywiseinkissingme；butperhapsyouwouldnotbesowiseinbringingLornaforanafternoon，justtoseewhatshethinksofme。Thereisagoodsaddleofmuttonnow；andtherearesomeverygoodsausagesleft，onthebluedishwiththeanchor，Annie，fromthelastlittlesowwekilled。’
’AsifLornawouldeatsausages!’saidI，withappearanceofhighcontempt，thoughrejoicingallthewhilethatmotherseemedtohavehernamesopat；andshepronounceditinamannerwhichmademyheartleaptomyears：’Lornatoeatsausages!’
’Idon’tseewhysheshouldn’t，’mymotheransweredsmiling，’ifshemeanstobeafarmer’swife，shemusttaketofarmer’sways，Ithink。Whatdoyousay，Annie？’
’ShewilleatwhateverJohndesires，Ishouldhope，’
saidAnniegravely；’particularlyasImadethem。’
’OhthatIcouldonlygetthechanceoftryingher!’I
answered，’ifyoucouldoncebeholdher，mother，youwouldneverlethergoagain。Andshewouldloveyouwithallherheart，sheissogoodandgentle。’
’Thatisaluckythingforme’；sayingthismymotherwept，asshehadbeendoingoffandon，whennooneseemedtolookather；’otherwiseIsuppose，John，shewouldverysoonturnmeoutofthefarm，havingyousocompletelyunderherthumb，assheseemstohave。I
seenowthatmytimeisover。LizzieandIwillseekourfortunes。Itiswiserso。’
’Now，mother，’Icried；’willyouhavethekindnessnottotalkanynonsense？Everythingbelongstoyou；andso，Ihope，yourchildrendo。Andyou，inturn，belongtous；asyouhaveprovedeversince——oh，eversincewecanremember。WhydoyoumakeAnniecryso？Yououghttoknowbetterthanthat。’
Motheruponthiswentoverallthethingsshehaddonebefore；howmanytimesIknownot；neitherdoesitmatter。Onlysheseemedtoenjoyitmore，everytimeofdoingit。Andthenshesaidshewasanoldfool；
andAnnielikeathoroughgirlpulledheronegreyhairout。
Althoughbyourmother’sreluctantconsentalargepartoftheobstaclesbetweenAnnieandherloverappearedtoberemoved，ontheotherhandLornaandmyselfgainedlittle，exceptasregardedcomfortofmind，andsomeeasetotheconscience。Moreover，ourchanceoffrequentmeetingsanddelightfulconversewasmuchimpaired，atleastforthepresent；becausethoughmotherwasnotawareofmynarrowescapefromCarverDoone，shemademepromisenevertoriskmylifebyneedlessvisits。Anduponthispoint，thatistosay，thenecessityofthevisit，shewaswellcontent，asshesaid，toleavemetomyowngoodsenseandhonour；
onlybeggingmealwaystotellherofmyintentionbeforehand。Thispledge，however，forherownsake，I
declinedtogive；knowinghowwretchedshewouldbeduringallthetimeofmyabsence；and，onthataccount，Ipromisedinstead，thatIwouldalwaysgiveherafullaccountofmyadventureuponreturning。
Nowmymother，asmightbeexpected，beganatoncetocastaboutforsomemeansofrelievingmefromallfurtherperil，andherselffromgreatanxiety。ShewasfullofplansforfetchingLorna，insomewonderfulmanner，outofthepoweroftheDoonesentirely，andintoherownhands，whereshewastoremainforatleastatwelve-month，learningallmotherandAnniecouldteachherofdairybusiness，andfarm-houselife，andthebestmodeofpackingbutter。Andallthisarosefrommyhappeningtosay，withoutmeaninganything，howthepoordearhadlongedforquiet，andalifeofsimplicity，andarestawayfromviolence!
Blessthee，mother——nowlonginheaven，thereisnoneedtoblessthee；butitoftenmakesadimnessnowinmywell-worneyes，whenIthinkofthyloving-kindness，warmth，andromanticinnocence。
AstostealingmybelovedfromthatvileGlenDoone，thedeeditselfwasnotimpossible，norbeyondmydaring；butinthefirstplacewouldshecome，leavingheroldgrandfathertodiewithouthertendence？Andevenif，throughfearofCarverandthatwickedCounsellor，sheshouldconsenttofly，woulditbepossibletokeepherwithoutaregimentofsoldiers？
WouldnottheDoonesatoncerideforthtoscourthecountryfortheirqueen，andfindingherastheymustdo，burnourhouse，andmurderus，andcarryherbacktriumphantly？
AllthisIlaidbeforemymother，andtosucheffectthatsheacknowledged，withasighthatnothingelseremainedformeinthepresentstateofmatters
excepttokeepacarefulwatchuponLornafromsafedistance，observethepolicyoftheDoones，andwaitforatideintheiraffairs。MeanwhileImightevenfallinloveasmotherunwiselyhintedwithacertainmorepeacefulheiress，althoughofinferiorblood，whowouldbedailyatmyelbow。Iamnotsurebutwhatdearmotherherselfwouldhavebeendisappointed，hadI
provedmyselfsofickle；andmydisdainandindignationatthemeresuggestiondidnotsomuchdispleaseher；
forsheonlysmiledandanswered，——
’Well，itisnotformetosay；Godknowswhatisgoodforus。Likingswillnotcometoorder；otherwiseI
shouldnotbewhereIamthisday。AndofonethingI